Mary Wanyonyi has been sworn in as the new chairperson for the Commission for Revenue Allocation (CRA).
Wanyonyi has pledged to institute radical changes to optimize revenue collection in the country to ensure equitable resource allocation.
The new CRA Chairperson observed that the current revenue estimates are unrealistic and ambitious.
“CRA in making recommendations shall seek to enhance the revenue sources for the national and county government,” she said.
She noted that the inability to collect enough money results in unpaid invoices at the end of the year, which has gradually impacted service delivery.
Wanyonyi has further committed to ensuring counties' best possible revenue collection through technology that would close all loopholes and prevent thefts.
“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 said.
She replaces Jane Kiragi, who retired in February after being at the helm of the revenue allocation commission for six years.
She is the spouse of the former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairperson Wafula Chebukati. She boasts over three decades of experience in accounting alongside her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Wanyonyi will be the third CRA chair after Micah Cheserem and her predecessor, Jane Kirangi.
CRA is tasked with recommending the basis for equitable sharing of revenues raised nationally between the national and county governments.