Nairobi has highest permit revenue yields

By James Anyanzwa

Nairobi, Kenya: Nairobi ranked the topmost county with the highest Single Business Permit revenue yields during the 2010/11 financial year.

According to the latest data from the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA), Nairobi County, which generates over 45 per cent of Kenya’s gross domestic product (GDP), realised more revenues from single permit businesses during the period under review.

It was followed by Mombasa, Kiambu, Kirinyaga and Nyeri. According to the second edition of the Kenya County Fact Sheets launched on Friday, Homa Bay County tops the list of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the country. HIV prevalence rates stood at 6.2 per cent in 2011 with Homa Bay ranking first at 27.1 per cent.

It is closely followed by Kisumu at 18.7 per cent, Siaya (17.8 per cent), Migori (13.4 per cent) and Mombasa (11.1 per cent)

Paved roads averaged 9.4 per cent of the total road network in 2012. The lowest percentages of paved roads were found in Marsabit, Mandera, Lamu, Isiolo, Samburu and Garissa.

According to CRA, the average population growth in the country averaged 3.14 per cent between 1999 and 2009. During this period, the counties with the highest population growth rates included Mandera (14.1 per cent), Wajir (7.3 per cent), Turkana (6.4 per cent), Kajiado (5.3 per cent) and Marsabit (5.1 per cent).

Stephen Masha, a director in charge of County Fiscal Affairs at CRA, said the data would inform county planning to promote equitable development at the county level. “The data will also enable appropriate development of programs to enhance Kenya’s socio-economic development,” he said.

Mr Masha said such data would also aid in intra-county, inter-county, and county-national comparisons. Kenya County Fact Sheets provides an update of data contained in the first edition launched in November 2011. Nairobi has a well-developed infrastructure, including modern financial and communications systems.