Sakaja on the spot over KRA’s role in County revenue collection
Nairobi County Ad-Hoc Committee has questioned the legality of nine Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officials who are reportedly controlling the county revenue system, the Nairobi Revenue System (NRS).
The committee, led by Makongeni Member of County Assembly (MCA) Peter Imwatok, which is still probing the reduction of county revenue, was shocked to learn that Governor Johnson Sakaja has an agreement with former KRA Commissioner General James Githii Mburu to have nine KRA officials dedicated to the county revenue system without the approval of the County Assembly.
The working framework between the county boss and KRA ensures the taxman rendering services to the county without being formalized by the Assembly.
Through a letter dated January 4, 2023, Governor Sakaja requested approval of the nine KRA officials to help in the transition of the revenue function to the county, which came after the expiry of the contract was signed between the defunct Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) and KRA.
In their defence, KRA legal advisor Mr Silvestor Okello said since they agreed with the governor, they have been working on the framework, which is now complete and is subject to approval.
“A draft of the framework was indeed signed to be sent to the county but there have been discussions because of the proposals in the framework which then would require the county to consult further. That includes finalization of that particular instrument. Right now we are operating without a signed framework which is under consideration,” Mr Okello said.
Among the nine officers who were designated to offer their services to the county are Deputy Commissioner County Revenue Division Ms Annastaciah Githubi, Mr Okello, Leonard Otieno, Andrew Wamae, James Kumba, John Muhunyo, George Thuo, Francis Oluoch, and Benard Ngugi.
Imwatok questioned the criteria that the Governor used to pick the nine officers.
“How does an agency enter into a contract via a letter of the Governor without contractual legal authorities? Here is the Governor asking for secondment of staff, they request for a mutual framework on how these will be done without Assembly.”
The County Executive Committee Member in charge of Finance and Planning Mr Charles Kerich said the county has finalized the framework which will be submitted before the committee, allowing the nine experts from the KRA to work under the county, and to successfully see the transfer of NRS services to the county.
This comes even as the County recordED an increase in its revenue collection for the last six months.
The figures from the county show that Sh3. 695 million has been collected in the last six months of the current Financial Year, compared to Sh2.615 million which was collected under the same period in the last financial year.
Also read: ‘We are losing the boychild’, Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera warns