Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has defended her administration’s decision to allocate Ksh4 million annually to provide meals for county revenue collectors.
Speaking on Thursday, the governor clarified that the budget covered a full year and was necessary to support the officials, who often work long hours under tough conditions.
She noted that the revenue collectors, earning a modest Ksh15,000 per month, begin their work as early as 4 a.m. to ensure efficient tax collection at markets and trading centers.
“That Ksh4 million they were talking about is the budget for a whole year. These revenue collectors are on the ground from as early as 4 a.m. when lorries offload goods. They help us meet our revenue targets, and I see no issue in providing them with breakfast. I have no apologies to make,” Waiguru stated.
The budgetary allocation had come under scrutiny during a Senate Public Accounts Committee hearing, where Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang’ questioned the necessity of maintaining revenue enforcement officers when the county had already digitized tax collection.
Waiguru, however, dismissed the concerns, insisting that despite digitization, physical enforcement remains crucial in ensuring compliance and maximizing revenue.
The debate has sparked mixed reactions, with some residents supporting the move as a fair incentive for hardworking county staff, while others question the county’s spending priorities amid pressing development needs.
