The Senate’s Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Committee has directed Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya to appear before it within seven days.
Natembeya is expected to respond to queries over his county’s revenue system, governance, policy and own-source revenue under-collection
The commitee issued the directive after the Governor and his deputy, Philomena Kapkori snubbed them when they toured the county on Saturday, November 30, 2024.
Sessional chairperson Samson Cherargei (Senator Nandi) said the committee was disappointment and displeased that Natembeya and Kapkori failed to show up despite prior notification.
“We thought this matter is so serious because it is about own source revenue and revenue collection that it is important that the Governor and the entire executive should have attended,” Cherargei said.
Why Natembeya was absent during Senate ICT commitee visit
Trans Nzoia Finance and Economic Planning County Executive Committee Member (CECM) Pepela Wanjala represented the Governor in the session.
He told the commitee that the Governor engaged in Nairobi while Kapkori had two important meetings she was chairing.
Nominated Senator Beatrice Ogolla said it was out of order for the deputy Governor to snub the committee while she is the principal assistant of the Governor.
“It is not in order for the CECM to say the Governor is in Nairobi while we gave him sufficient notice that we shall be visiting his County. The deputy should have been here to represent him,” Ogolla said.
Elgeyo Marakwet Senator William Kisang’ equally registered his dissatisfaction.
“I left Eldoret at 6:00 am for this county only to learn that neither the Governor nor the deputy is there for such an important function,” Kisang’ stated.
Nonetheless, the session went on for almost two hours where the county team was put to task.
Trans Nzoia own-source revenue in 2024
It emerged that the County fell short of its own source revenue target. In 2023/2024 Financial Year, Trans Nzoia County collected Ksh 476 million out of a target of Ksh 640 million.
Meanwhile, Trans Nzoia Senator, Allan Chesang’ called on the county to fully automate its revenue collection systems to curb leakages.
“Trans Nzoia county has revenue potential of Ksh 1.9 billion but the county collects approximately 25% of the target. We need to net the other 75% through full automation,” Chesang’ said.
Currently, Trans Nzoia County uses Electronic Revenue Collection System that has been in operarion from February 2024.
