NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 8 – The National Treasury plans to automate debt management and resource mobilization systems to enhance fiscal transparency and safeguard the country’s financial integrity.
Principal Secretary Dr. Chris Kiptoo stated on Thursday that the exchequer is fast-tracking the integration of digital systems across all departments to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks and strengthen oversight in public financial management (PFM).
Addressing staff at the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO), led by Director General Raphael Owino, Dr. Kiptoo highlighted the Development Partners Management Information System (DPMIS) and the Electronic Document and Records Management System (EDRMS) as pivotal tools in modernizing the state’s fiscal architecture.
“The DPMIS is intended to transform the coordination, transparency, and management of development partner resources,” Dr. Kiptoo noted, adding that the system was developed in-house by the Resource Mobilization Department (RMD).
The migration towards this new system addresses the long-standing challenges of data fragmentation, which have historically complicated the tracking of donor-funded projects and the reporting of external debt obligations. For the Kenyan taxpayer, this digitization serves as a critical safeguard ensuring that loans and grants from international partners are used specifically for their intended projects.
The system, which is set for a pilot phase, will facilitate real-time financial tracking and project performance monitoring. By providing a granular view of resource allocation, the Treasury aims to ensure every shilling borrowed or donated contributes directly to economic growth.
Director General of the PDMO, Raphael Owino, emphasized that the EDRMS will further bolster accountability by creating a robust electronic audit trail, a move that aligns Kenya with global standards for sovereign debt transparency and enhances the country’s creditworthiness in the eyes of international lenders.
By Otieno John Kennedy
