The Meru administration is improving tax collection processes to address leaks and boost internally generated income to reach Sh2 billion per year.
The district generated Sh1.15 billion during the fiscal year 2024-25, marking a rise from the Sh961 million gathered in the preceding year.
Finance official Monica Kathono stated that the government became aware of the increase last year after implementing digitalized hospital billing systems and efforts to boost employee morale.
Nevertheless, she mentioned that the county continues to encounter issues with revenue loss because certain sources have not been automated yet.
Lately, Governor Isaac Mutuma introduced an inspection group aimed at detecting financial losses and individuals evading taxes as part of efforts to cut down on waste.
“Meru County has faced challenges in meeting the Sh1 billion income goal for many years. Nevertheless, several initiatives implemented by the leadership have ultimately led to success,” Kathono stated.
This involves digitizing transactions, ensuring prompt salary and advance payments, implementing cash-free systems, and putting an end to worker harassment by locals.
She mentioned that the Sh2 billion income goal would be reached by automating land rate payments and establishing multiple sources of revenue.
The official stated that the county has an income potential of 3.7 billion shillings, although previous gaps have hindered the ability to gather these resources.
Kathono informed reporters on Monday that the region is currently concentrating on making all transactions digital to reduce opportunities for employees to handle cash.
“We are currently working on automating the liquor licensing procedure,” Kathono stated.
The district approved a budget worth Sh14.6 billion for the fiscal period spanning 2025 to 2026, with Sh1.9 billion designated for health care services. Part of this funding will be used to outfit and digitize records at medical centers, as well as incentivizing staff to enhance the quality of health-related assistance.
Around Sh228 million has additionally been allocated for hiring more healthcare staff and promotional activities during this fiscal year to improve service provision.
The financial plan additionally provided Sh1.6 billion for roads, transportation, and electricity, whereas the areas of water supply, farming, environmental protection, raw materials, and climate-related matters received Sh1.1 billion.
Land use, infrastructure planning, and city development were allocated Sh918 million, with MCAs praising the strong collaboration with the administration for driving progress.
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