Narok and Elgeyo-Marakwet counties have emerged as leaders in revenue collection, achieving over 50 percent of their annual own-source revenue targets for the 2024/25 financial year’s first half, according to a report by the Controller of Budget.
Narok County recorded an impressive 87 percent of its target, while Elgeyo-Marakwet followed closely with 60 percent. Other top-performing counties included Samburu at 59 percent, Laikipia at 55 percent, Garissa at 53 percent, and Wajir at 52 percent.
Despite these successes, some counties struggled to meet their revenue goals. Kiambu and Bungoma managed only 20 percent, while Kajiado, Kisumu, and Bomet reported even lower figures at 19 percent, 18 percent, and 16 percent, respectively.
Counties like Murang’a and Machakos collected 12 percent each. Bungoma set a target of Sh1.1 billion but collected Sh456 million, while Machakos had a target of Sh7.2 billion but gathered only Sh144 million.
In total, the devolved units generated Sh25 billion in own-source revenue during the period, representing 30 percent of the annual target of Sh84 billion. The Controller of Budget emphasized the need for underperforming counties to revise their financial projections for more achievable targets.
Expenditure reports revealed that counties spent Sh51 billion on recurrent activities, accounting for 40 percent of their annual budgets. This is a rise from Sh19 billion in a similar period in the 2023/24 financial year.
As revenue collection remains a critical measure of county performance, the stark contrast between high and low-performing counties highlights the need for effective strategies and realistic financial planning.
