Relishing Early Fruits Of The Reforms
Updated on: Sep 07, 2020
While releasing the county quarterly financial results to the public in April 2019, Governor Ndiritu Muriithi announced the significant growth in own source revenue in the third quarter of the finan-cial year.
By the end of June 2019, his administration had collected Kes. 815 million-almost double of the Kes 468 million that the previous administration had collected in 2016/2017. This surprised revenue rich neighbours like Meru who came to learn a few tricks on revenue collection. Kiambu, Makueni, also came calling.
The feat was attributed to operationalization of the County Revenue Board, high staff morale, automation, use of integrated county operations management system iCOMS, implementation of a performance-based management system, opening of new revenue streams, enforcement, and innovation countywide pub-lic awareness meetings and rallies across all wards.
LCRBs strategy has been to widen the revenue net horizontally rather than vertically meaning it does not need to increase fees and rates but rather have higher compliance rate.
So despite the steady growth in revenue citi-zens remain unburdened as no taxes or addi-tional charges have ever been introduced
Between January and March 2018 the county increased its own source revenue to Kshs 572. 8 million-a 40% increase compared to the same period in 2017/208 which stood at 408 million.
Notably, this increase came days after the county was ranked 5th on fiscal responsibility by the World Bank in its annual capacity performance rank and 2nd in a budget trans-parency survey conducted by International Partnership Kenya.
Revenue streams that recorded a huge growth included liquor license at 311.7%, land rates 89.4%, county natural resources 102% and technical and external services at 882% and 105% respectively.
The highest source of revenue came from health facilities raking in 224,795,198 ac-counting for 39.2% of own source revenue. This in itself is an indicator of the level of confidence the citizens have in the county health system.
In addition, the growth in the single business permits stream which accounted for 12.57 % of the revenue also showed growth of confidence among local entrepreneurs.
Many counties among them Meru, Kiambu, Narok, Makueni, Nakuru, Bungo-ma,came to benchmark with Laikipia.
The county is among the few, if any, public or-ganizations that release quarterly financial re-ports. This has earned it high credit rating score.
It has the highest life expectancy nationally at 71.9 years. It was also ranked second in terms of having the lowest under five mortality rate.
Laikipia has the highest percentage of households with a form of medical insurance which makes it easier to access quality healthcare. More than half of households have are covered under NHIF.
The county had already broken new grounds in terms of governance. All key decision is driven by data. To avail data, the county in conjunction with Kenya Na-tional Bureau of Statistics published the first county statistical abstract in 2018. Other subsequent editions have since followed. There have been evident change in organisational culture and improved attitude towards work.
By the end of June 2019, his administration had collected Kes. 815 million-almost double of the Kes 468 million that the previous administration had collected in 2016/2017. This surprised revenue rich neighbours like Meru who came to learn a few tricks on revenue collection. Kiambu, Makueni, also came calling.
The feat was attributed to operationalization of the County Revenue Board, high staff morale, automation, use of integrated county operations management system iCOMS, implementation of a performance-based management system, opening of new revenue streams, enforcement, and innovation countywide pub-lic awareness meetings and rallies across all wards.
LCRBs strategy has been to widen the revenue net horizontally rather than vertically meaning it does not need to increase fees and rates but rather have higher compliance rate.
So despite the steady growth in revenue citi-zens remain unburdened as no taxes or addi-tional charges have ever been introduced
Between January and March 2018 the county increased its own source revenue to Kshs 572. 8 million-a 40% increase compared to the same period in 2017/208 which stood at 408 million.
Notably, this increase came days after the county was ranked 5th on fiscal responsibility by the World Bank in its annual capacity performance rank and 2nd in a budget trans-parency survey conducted by International Partnership Kenya.
Revenue streams that recorded a huge growth included liquor license at 311.7%, land rates 89.4%, county natural resources 102% and technical and external services at 882% and 105% respectively.
The highest source of revenue came from health facilities raking in 224,795,198 ac-counting for 39.2% of own source revenue. This in itself is an indicator of the level of confidence the citizens have in the county health system.
In addition, the growth in the single business permits stream which accounted for 12.57 % of the revenue also showed growth of confidence among local entrepreneurs.
Many counties among them Meru, Kiambu, Narok, Makueni, Nakuru, Bungo-ma,came to benchmark with Laikipia.
The county is among the few, if any, public or-ganizations that release quarterly financial re-ports. This has earned it high credit rating score.
It has the highest life expectancy nationally at 71.9 years. It was also ranked second in terms of having the lowest under five mortality rate.
Laikipia has the highest percentage of households with a form of medical insurance which makes it easier to access quality healthcare. More than half of households have are covered under NHIF.
The county had already broken new grounds in terms of governance. All key decision is driven by data. To avail data, the county in conjunction with Kenya Na-tional Bureau of Statistics published the first county statistical abstract in 2018. Other subsequent editions have since followed. There have been evident change in organisational culture and improved attitude towards work.
