City Hall targets revenue boost with new system after JamboPay exit

A Nairobi county parking attendant displays an automated electronic gadget for collecting revenue [Standard, File]

The Nairobi City County Government is set to introduce a new internal revenue collection system from Monday June 10.

Motorists, traders and businesses in the county will now remit their taxes through an internally managed system to be unveiled. 

This was after the county parted ways with Webtribe Limited, the company that was contracted to collect revenue on behalf of the county in April 2014.

The county has assured residents that it will do everything possible to ensure a smooth and satisfactory transition.

Webtribe's contract expired on April 7, 2019 but the county entered into negotiations with the firm for a 30-day extension period to ensure a seamless transition to the internally managed system. 

Finance Executive Charles Kerich said the county is now ready to collect revenue on its own.

Kerich who read a statement on behalf of acting County Secretary Pauline Kahiga noted that the county was committed to achieving its revenue collection targets hence the move on the JamboPay system. 

"Our aim is to achieve our annual targets and we are working on ways we make it possible internally," said Kerich.

JamboPay is the payment platform provided by Webtribe to help Nairobi residents remit revenue to the County through the EjijiPay system. 

Prior to the expiry of the contract, the county government had engaged with JampoPay to ensure a seamless transition and continuity of service from the private provider.

"This resulted to the need for a further extension of another 30 days, which lapsed on 7th June 2019," Kerich added. 

Initial negotiations had allowed for a 90-day extension period but the county says it’s now ready for internal revenue collection. 

According to Kerich, there is going to be an exit process as well as an official and final handover of all data, assets and reports by Monday.

"We expect for instance, that all money that has been deposited by Nairobi residents in JamboPay's wallet should be reimbursed to the owners," Kerich added.

Last year, the Nairobi City County Assembly Public Accounts Committee had recommended for the immediate termination of the Webtribe contract over citing transparency and low revenue collections.

The Budget Committee has also raised its concerns with JamboPay, noting that the county had no full control over system.

Last financial year the county collected Sh10 billion against a target of Sh17 billion. By end of May this year, the county had hit the Sh10 billion mark against a target of Sh15 billion. 

Nairobi County Parking Director Tom Tinega has hailed the new move, noting that the county can now chat a reasonable path in revenue collection.

"l personally had a problem with JamboPay and it's good that they are gone. We now have a chance to achieve our sectorial targets," Tinega said. 

The County will be relying on its data centre for the collections.