Kericho County has for the first time recorded the highest Own-Source Revenue collection since the start of devolution in 2013, surpassing the Ksh1 billion mark.

According to the County Department of Finance and Economic Planning, a total of Ksh1,082,306,259 was collected in the 2024-2025 financial year, representing a performance rate of 88.5 per cent.

Kericho County Governor Eric Mutai attributed the milestone to sustained revenue reforms, including the implementation of the Kericho Revenue System and efforts to seal loopholes and leakages that had previously hindered full revenue realisation.

According to Dr Mutai, the upward revenue trajectory confirms the county’s commitment to fiscal discipline and service delivery and emphasised the importance of leveraging technology and continued public engagement to boost compliance and transparency.

“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to our dedicated revenue staff for their exceptional hard work and commitment that enabled us to surpass the Ksh1 billion revenue mark in the financial year ending June 30th, 2025, an impressive feat, especially achieved with a lean team,” Mutai said.

He added, “With the recent on-boarding of over 30 newly recruited, system-trained revenue clerks and the successful sensitisation of our residents on the new revenue system, we are now well-positioned to achieve an even more ambitious target of Ksh1.5 billion in the current financial year.”

According to department of finance and economic planning, in the previous 2023-2024 financial year, the county collected Ksh834,758,771, achieving a performance rate of 78.8 per cent, which was an increase from Ksh775,958,004 collected in the 2022-2023 financial year, posting a performance rate of 75.1 per cent.

The 2021-2022 financial year recorded Ksh693,663,276 with a performance rate of 79.4 per cent, this was an improvement from the 2020-2021 financial year where the county collected Ksh595,976,653 at a performance rate of 78.9 per cent.

In the 2019 to 2020 financial year, the county collected Sh400,291,308, reflecting a performance rate of 72.1 percent as the 2018-2019 financial year had slightly higher revenue at Ksh473,978,400 with a performance rate of 68.21 percent.

The 2017-2018 financial year saw the county raise Ksh414,048,710, achieving a performance rate of 74.65 per cent. In 2016 to 2017, Kericho collected Sh489,980,629, registering a performance rate of 81.2 per cent.

Governor Mutai assured that the department of finance and economic planning to maintain the momentum through further automation, monitoring, and training to ensure that revenue targets are met and surpassed in the ongoing financial year.

Meanwhile, Governor Mutai has assented to the Ksh10.03 billion Kericho County 2025nappropriation bill, officially marking the start of implementation of the county budget for the 2025-2026 financial year.

He stated that the budget was the largest in the County since the onset of devolution and emphasized that it reflected the County’s strong commitment to accelerating development and enhancing service delivery in every ward.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Kibe Mburu