President Uhuru Kenyatta chats with the Regional General Manager, IBM East Africa, Nick Nesbitt during during the official launch of Research Lab Africa at Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Karen,Nairobi County/FILE
This is according to President Uhuru Kenyatta, who said the move will help the government account for its revenue by reducing corruption and misuse of funds.
Speaking during the launch of the Machakos County City project on Friday, the Head of State directed all government agencies to adhere to the change and put the required systems in place within the given timeline.
“The time for change in the manner we manage our public affairs has come to an end and this process is not stoppable. We must and we will change,” Kenyatta said.
“It is my intention that by first of April we will stop all cash payments for government services and all of them will be made on a digital platform,” he announced.
President Kenyatta added that the Central Government will also work with the County Governments to create one-stop- shops for acquiring business licenses and other key documents.
“We don’t want people who want to invest in Machakos to first go Nairobi to collect their license. We want to even have one here in Machakos by January 2014,” Kenyatta pledged.
He said the government has also put in place a number of measures to reduce the cost of doing business.
He cited the implementation of prudent fiscal and monetary policy, improvement of infrastructure and enhancing security as some of the steps taken to bolster the country’s economy.
“For example, my Government will soon be tendering for the dualing of Mombasa Highway from Athi River all the way to Konza and Machakos so as to speed up transportation of goods and people between Nairobi and Machakos,” he announced.
Speaking during the occasion, Machakos Governor, Alfred Mutua said the launch of the city and the investment programme signified his county government’s determination to realize the dream of a prosperous Kenya.
Local and international investors have pledged to put up investment worth Sh1.5 trillion in the new city.
