Sonko: City Hall losing Sh100 million daily
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has embarked on a process of streamlining the revenue collection department at City Hall claiming that Sh100 million is lost to cartels on a daily basis.
On Wednesday, Sonko and his deputy Polycarp Igathe staged a sting operation at the department and found Sh7 million un-banked money at the cash office at 11am.
The governor wrote to Jambo pay -the electronic payment platform- to furnish him with details of daily collections.
Sources in the county have also said that he has also sought the help of Director Directorate Criminal investigation Ndengwa Muhoro to investigate top official at the cash office.
In a letter dated August 23rd, 2017 to the CEO Jambo Pay Danson Muchemi, the Governor said he wanted the company to give records of all collections handled from August 9th August to date.
Mr Sonko also demanded a certified copy of the company`s contract with the county and the list of its directors.
URGENT MATTER
“I am reliably informed that your company is contracted by the Nairobi City County and operate the JamboPay system of cash collections. Do treat this matter as very urgent as failure of the same will lead to termination of your contract,” the letter reads in part.
In his response, Mr Muchemi said that the electronic platform only collects 14 revenue streams out of more than 136 outlined in the County Finance Act.
The CEO listed the daily parking, land rates, single business permits, liquor licencing, rents, fire permits, cess payments and construction permits as the only services operationalised on eJijipay.
ELECTRONIC PAYMENT
He said that since inception, Sh11.6 billion has been collected through the electronic payment platform with Sh3.4billion collected in 2016.
Mr Muchemi added that they have faced challenges like sabotage by the county government through system technical challenges.
“We have had various challenges like low public awareness, weaken enforcement, unfavorable policies and slow migration of new revenue streams to the e-platform as only 14 revenue streams are automated,” said Mr Muchemi.