Kisumu County launches integrated revenue management system

By Peter Ochieng

Kisumu governor Anyang' Nyong'o's administration has launched an Intergrated County Revenue System (ICRMS), in partnership with telecommunications company Safaricom.

The system, according to the governor seeks to address the county’s challenges in optimising revenue collection, administration, and reporting.

Banking on Safaricom, Nyong'o expressed optimism that the system will work, after previously being let down by people who 'promised heaven and delivered hell.'

With the system in place, the governor said their revenue target for this year is a modest Sh2.2 billion.

"Despite huge potential, the county has not been able to meet its set targets, hence our bold decision to embrace the new Integrated and automated revenue management system," said Nyong'o.

"I want to appeal to everyone involved in revenue collection using this new system, from the revenue board, the county treasury and the actual collectors to ensure we meet our targets because it is now or never," he added.

The innovative platform will support various revenue services, including parking, markets, advertising, property rates and approvals, among other revenue services, in the end reducing queues and wait times at the county offices.

The ICRMS is designed to enhance citizen satisfaction by providing convenient payment options for services.

Residents can pay through various channels, including USSD (*427#), WhatsApp, the MyKisumu App, and a web self-service portal, with the system ensuring real-time integration with payment channels like MPESA and banks for accurate reporting and reconciliation of transactions.

Speaking during the launch, Cynthia Karuri-Kropac, Safaricom Chief Enterprise Business Officer said besides Kisumu, the system has also been launched in Elgeyo Marakwet county.

"At Safaricom, we are committed to leveraging our technological capabilities to drive positive change in communities across Kenya. The implementation of the ICRMS system in Kisumu County reflects our commitment to driving digital transformation for efficient service delivery, making services more accessible and convenient for all, and furthering our mission to connect, empower, and improve the lives of Kenyans."

She said in order to enable end-to-end support, the East Africa Device Assembly Kenya Limited has been brought on board to provide smartphones required to run the revenue application used by dedicated revenue collectors, with Nyong'o adding that the officers have been trained on the same.

The Integrated County Revenue Management System also incorporates transparency features, providing real-time updates on revenue collection and usage, thus fostering accountability and trust between citizens and the county government.