The County Government of Kisumu has partnered with Safaricom to implement a new Integrated County Revenue Management System (ICRMS). The county management hopes that they will be able to acquire their target of Sh.2.2 billion in revenue collection thanks to the new system. The system will be cashless.
“We have co-created the platform with Safaricom to provide a seamless and user-friendly experience for Kisumu residents and county officials to contribute to the overall efficiency of revenue management,” noted Prof Nyong’o the Governor of Kisumu County.
The platform promises to be a one-stop shop for residents to access and pay for various county services. The hope is that the new, integrated, and automated system will enhance accessibility and transparency as well. County staff have already received proper training on the platform to ensure that it runs smoothly and efficiently. Further, the platform is available on several platforms such as Safaricom App, Mobile App, and WhatsApp, USSD (*427#), the MyKisumu App, and a web self-service portal.
“The innovative platform will support various revenue services, including parking, cess, markets, advertising, property rates, and approvals, among other revenue services reducing queues and wait times at the county offices,” affirmed Cynthia Kropac, Safaricom’s Chief Enterprise Business Officer.
The system, which is Kenyan-made and locally-made, ensures real-time integration with payment channels like MPESA and banks for accurate reporting and reconciliation of transactions. This will enable enhanced visibility and control are provided through dashboards accessible to executives, enabling effective monitoring of revenue performance and operations.
The county is also set to launch the Ushuru Centre, which will serve as a call centre connecting county revenue staff with the public. The call centre will be significant in assisting and resolving issues related to revenue in a fast and seamless manner.
“The system has GIS Data Integration Capability which is intended to help the County Government Map all its revenue sources and resources to ensure enhanced service delivery and to make revenue collection easy and more organised, especially for the structured revenue streams,” assured Governor Nyong’o.
The platform offers real-time verification of transactions and payments, which has been made possible using QR codes. Further, there is real time reporting of all transactions across all departments ensuring accountability and transparency. Impressively, the smartphones used for data entry of revenue collection are installed with technology allowing them to connect to the platform both online and offline.
The pilot test done in December 2023 showed that the system works seamlessly. Some of the revenue streams that have already been rolled out include markets, cess, parking and stock rings.
“At Safaricom, we are committed to leveraging our technological capabilities to drive positive change in communities across Kenya. The implementation of the ICRMS system in Kisumu County reflects our commitment to driving digital transformation for efficient service delivery, making services more accessible and convenient for all, and furthering our mission to connect, empower, and improve the lives of Kenyans,” noted Kropac.