Mary Wanyonyi Chebukati, the newly appointed Chairperson of the Commission for Revenue Allocation (CRA), has assumed her role with a determination to bring about radical changes that will enhance revenue collection in the country and ensure fair distribution of resources.
Taking the oath of office on Monday, Wanyonyi emphasized the need for realistic and ambitious revenue estimates to facilitate equitable resource allocation.
"In making recommendations, CRA shall seek to enhance the revenue sources for the national and county governments," stated Wanyonyi, setting the tone for her vision of a revamped revenue collection system.
She highlighted the current challenges caused by inadequate revenue collection, leading to the accumulation of pending bills that have adversely affected service delivery over time.
Wanyonyi underscored the urgency of implementing technological solutions to streamline revenue collection in counties, aiming to close any loopholes that might be facilitating revenue pilferages.
"The lack of enough revenue collection is attributed to manual collection of revenue which is coupled with high collection cost. The game changer in counties is to automate revenue collection," she added confidently.
At the heart of CRA's responsibility lies the task of recommending a fair basis for the equitable sharing of revenues raised nationally between the national and county governments.
With Wanyonyi's experience and commitment, the commission is poised to make significant strides towards a more efficient and just resource allocation system.
Mary Wanyonyi assumes her position as the new CRA chairperson, succeeding Jane Kiragi, who served in this capacity for six years until her retirement in February.
With her fresh perspective and determination to optimize revenue collection and distribution, Wanyonyi is expected to lead the commission towards a new era of fiscal responsibility and economic growth.