County on course for hi-tech fee collection

The Nyeri County government is in the process of automating all its financial systems with a view of boosting revenue collection to Sh1 billion by close of the financial year.

The county has also consolidated all the user fees levied by the former local authorities in the financial Bill now being discussed by the Assembly’s Finance Committee.

The Bill contains proposed new levies.

The devolved unit hopes to improve its revenue collection from Sh500 million annually to Sh1 billion for the same period, according to the county member in charge of Finance, Mr Martin Wamwea.

Mr Wamwea told the Nation by phone Thursday that they intended to do away with the cash-based system as it was responsible for loss of revenue in the past.

Among the new levies include an alcoholic drinks manufacturing licence, which will see brewers pay Sh1 million to acquire a permit for the production of one million litres of alcohol and above.

Bar owners have been spared from having to acquire multiple licences and will now pay for a single bar licence at a cost of Sh35,000 in Nyeri and Karatina towns, and Sh20,000 in shopping centres like Kiganjo and Mukurwe-ini.

The single bar licence will incorporate other licences previously given by statutory bodies like the Kenya Music and Copyright Society, Nacada, and the Ministry of Health.

PLANES LANDING CHARGES

While proposing the single bar licence early last month, Governor Nderitu Gachagua said it would free the traders to concentrate on their core businesses instead of chasing licences in different government offices.

Also in the proposed finance Bill is aircraft landing fee where small planes will pay between Sh2,000 to Sh3,000 per landing.

Vehicles parking fee will be raised from Sh50 to Sh80 per day. The fee is uniform and will cover parking in the entire county.