NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 9 – Narok County raised 73.6 percent of its annual own source revenue (OSR) collection target in the first six months to December last year, buoyed by tourism earnings last year.
In the 2022–23 half-year (July–December) OSR collection, it collected Sh1.8 billion against a full-year target of Sh2.4 billion.
This means the county is set to achieve its annual goal with only 26.4 percent remaining.
The growth came at a time when the region experienced high tourist arrivals at the Masai Mara National Reserve.
One of the biggest attractions is the wildebeest migration that happens between July and November.
The county depends on tourism, which employs hundreds of people, among others.
Nyeri also collected Sh413.3 million, or 51.7 percent, followed by Samburu with Sh112.2 million, or 46.7 percent.
The above-devolved units also boost tourism sites and facilities, which generate millions of shillings.
Whereas Samburu boosts sites such as Samburu National Reserve and Sera Rhino Sanctuary, Nyeri boosts Aberdare National Park, among others.
“Analysis of own-source revenue as a proportion of the annual revenue target indicated that Narok, Nyeri and Samburu counties achieved the highest percentage at 73.6 per cent, 51.7 per cent and 46.7 per cent respectively,” the County Government Budget Implementation Review Report for the First Half of FY 2022/23 February, 2023 shows.
Nyamira collected the least amount in proportion to annual collection at Sh22.6 million, or 8.5 percent, followed by Nakuru at Sh210.2 million, or 9.2 percent, and Kajiado at Sh139.5 million, or 9.3 percent.
“Conversely, counties with the lowest proportion of own source revenue against targets were Kajiado at 9.3 per cent, Nakuru at 9.2 per cent and Nyamira at 8.5 per cent of the annual target.”
In the period, counties generated a total of Sh13.11 billion from their OSR, which was 22.5 percent of the annual target of Sh58.34 billion.
“The realised OSR is a decline compared to Kshs.14.06 billion generated in a similar period in FY 2021/22.”
