Nairobi, Narok and Mombasa got highest own source revenue

The Controller of Budget is Margaret Nyakang'o during the Institute of Certified Secretaries (ICS) gala dinner and award Ceremony at a Nairobi hotel on 30 August 30, 2024. [Kanyiri Wahito Standard]

Nairobi, Narok, Mombasa and Kiambu counties collected the highest own source revenue (OSR) in the 2023–2024 financial year. 

The latest Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o’s report shows all 47 counties collected Sh58.9 billion in the 2023-2024 financial year, an improvement on the Sh37.81 billion generated in previous year. 

Nairobi County topped the list with Sh12.5 billion in collections, followed by Mombasa with Sh5.5 billion, Narok  with Sh4.7 billion, and Kiambu with Sh4.58 billion.

Other counties in the top ten category were Nakuru (Sh3.3 billion), Machakos (Sh1.5 billion), Kisumu (Sh1.443 billion), Uasin Gishu (Sh1.42 billion), Nyeri (Sh1.4 billion), and Kakamega closed the list with Sh1.3 billion.

The other counties that hit Sh1 billion collection are Homabay (Sh1.2 billion), Kisii (Sh1.18 billion), Murang’a (Sh1.1 billion), Laikipia (Sh1 billion), and Kilifi. (Sh1.2 billion) Bungoma (Sh1.1 billion).

Ten counties with the least collection were Tana River (Sh92 million), Marsabit (Sh145 million), Wajir (Sh164 million), Mandera (Sh168 million), West Pokot (Sh185 million),  Lamu (Sh209 million), Samburu (Sh266 million), Vihiga (Sh338 million), Nyamira (Sh369 million) and Tharaka Nithi (Sh417 million).

The Abdullswamad Sherrif Nassir-led Mombasa County collected Sh1.1 billion from health services, Sh934 million from land rates, parking (Sh664 million), business permit (Sh595 million), cess (Sh503 million), and Sh1.7 billion from “other sources”.

Narok, under Governor Patrick Ntutu, collected most of its revenue from the national parks, which gave Sh4.3 billion, cess Sh209 million, single business permits (Sh70 million), health services (Sh59 million), liquor (Sh27 million), and Sh98 million from “other sources.”

The county increased its collection by Sh1.7 billion compared to the previous financial year when Sh3 billion was collected. The County generated a total of Sh4.78 billion from its revenue sources, inclusive of Facilities Improvement Financing (FIF).

This amount represented an increase of 56.2 per cent compared to Sh3.06 billion realized in a similar period in FY 2022/23,” says the report.

Kiambu, under Governor Kimani Wamatangi, had health services contributing Sh1.197 million, technical services fees (Sh818 million), property income (Sh809 million), business permits (Sh410 million), parking (Sh349 million), and Sh989 million from “other sources.”

Kiambu is also among the counties with the highest increment in terms of the amount collected between the 2023/2024 financial year when Sh3.6 billion was realised, and in the 2023/2024 fiscal year, when Sh4.58 billion was raised. The increase was by approximately Sh1 billion from the previous year, representing an increase of 26.8 per cent.

Since 2022, the county has been registering an upward trajectory in revenue collection, having increased its collection by Sh1.5 billion in the last two years without increasing the existing fees and levies.

“The increase in OSR can be attributed to the introduction of a new ERP revenue system, the issuance of waivers on land rates that encouraged the public to pay, the creation of various task forces in tandem with Huduma Mashinani and Rapid Results Initiatives that helped in collection, supervising, and public sensitisation,” Ms Nyakang’o says of Kiambu in her report.