Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has defended payment of Ksh.4 million allowances to revenue collection clerks saying it has helped double collections.

Waiguru said the allowances have helped motivate the revenue collectors, steadily increasing county’s Own Source Revenue from about Ksh.300 million to around Ksh.700 million.

She said the money was paid in financial year 2023/2024 as lunch and breakfast allowances to the staff who collect revenue at the markets for a whole year.

While justifying the payments which had been raised as an audit query at the Senate, the county boss said the workers are paid the allowances for working extra and odd hours.

“I am a fair boss, I push people to deliver but I also make sure am fair. This Ksh.4 million they are talking about is allowances for the entire year for our revenue collectors whom I have given a target of Ksh.700 million. The revenue collectors have to be at the market at 4am and leave the market at 10 pm, the list we can do is to facilitate them to do the work,” Waiguru added.

Speaking at the County headquarters in Kutus during the launch of national government’s health digitization initiative, the Governor said the revenue clerks have done a commendable job in helping the county collect more revenue despite receiving low pay.

She said her administration is committed to better remuneration and motivation of staff so that they can deliver on their target.

Waiguru said prudent use of public resources and adherence to the law remain one of cornerstones of her leadership. 

“If am spending Ksh.4 million to collect Ksh.400 million then that is good mathematics, I will make sure my staff all facilitated and motivated to do their work and deliver on target. We must be fair to our staff,” Waiguru said.

So as to ensure the county meet its revenue target, the governor said the county has been paying the allowances to motivate staff to working extra hours and late at night.

“I have been a civil servant myself and I understand what the staff go through to ensure services are delivered. We want to increase our revenue collection target to Ksh.800 million and this target can only be achieved by a motivated staff,” she added.

Waiguru asked staff to work hard, knowing well her administration will facilitate them to deliver on their target.

However, the Governor said her administration will continue to prioritize development and service delivery to the people so as to deliver on promises.

Ends………