The Senate Standing Committee on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has commended Meru County for its successful rollout of an automated revenue management system that has led to a marked increase in own-source revenue.
The county’s earnings rose from Sh961.94 million to Sh1.16 billion in the last financial year.
Led by Vice Chairperson Senator Miraj Abdullahi, the committee began a three-day oversight mission in Meru on Monday, 13 October.
The visit is part of a wider inquiry into the effectiveness of county revenue systems and aligns with the Senate’s constitutional duty to safeguard county interests. The team will also tour Isiolo and Nyeri counties.
During the session, Governor Isaac Mutuma told the committee that the system cost Sh55 million to acquire, with maintenance pegged at 4.8 per cent of total revenue collected.
He said that 90 per cent of county services are already digitized, with full integration expected by the end of October.
While welcoming the progress, Senator Ogolla advised the county to strengthen internal capacity to avoid long-term reliance on the system’s vendor.
“As you train your people, build capacity beyond the current vendor relationship,” she said, cautioning that overdependence could hinder sustainability. She also urged that the increased revenue be reflected in better public services.
County officials said the system is largely managed internally, with staff undergoing quarterly training.
They cited a 2019 ICT policy that governs data security and implementation. No hacking incidents have been reported, and safeguards such as USSD access and offline synchronization ensure service continuity in areas with unstable power supply.
Other committee members present included Senators William Kisang and Samson Cherarkey.
