Murang’a County Government has launched its second annual revenue mapping exercise, seeking to deploy 2,048 youth to collect data on businesses and other revenue-generating activities across the County.
The exercise, which will cover all 512 public primary schools, is aimed at helping the County establish an updated database of revenue streams, identify collection loopholes and improve accountability without imposing additional taxes, fees or charges on residents.
Four data collectors will be assigned to each school catchment area, comprising two graduates, one university student and one college or Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) student.
Governor Irungu Kang’ata said the exercise comes as the county seeks to sustain the growth in own-source revenue, which has risen from about Sh500 million before 2023 to Sh. 1.7 billion as of June 30, 2026.
Kang’ata attributed the increase to improved revenue collection and sealing of leakages rather than an increase in the financial burden on residents.
“We have achieved this without increasing any taxes, fees or charges. The growth is from better collection, not a higher burden on our people,” he said.
The Governor said mapping revenue sources across the county would enable the administration to establish what businesses and other taxable activities exist in different areas and ensure that revenue collection is properly documented.
He added that the initiative would also help protect traders from individuals posing as county revenue officers and demanding unauthorized payments.
“This is about knowing what exists in every part of Murang’a so that we can improve collection and close leakages, while protecting traders from unauthorized collectors,” Kang’ata said.
The county administration said the data collection exercise is not a revenue collection exercise, warning residents and traders against making payments to the recruited data collectors.
The collectors will wear official branded reflector jackets and will not be authorized to handle cash, with the county urging residents to report anyone who attempts to demand money during the exercise.
The initiative is expected to strengthen the county’s digital revenue management system by providing reliable information on businesses, institutions and other revenue-generating activities across the 35 wards.
The county has also emphasized that the recruitment process is free and will be conducted exclusively online through the My Murang’a App or its official online application platform. Manual applications will not be accepted.
Applicants must apply for the primary school catchment area where they reside, while those who submit applications for more than one school will be disqualified.
Successful applicants will undergo mandatory training before being deployed to the field.
The county government said the exercise will ultimately help it broaden its revenue base through better identification and documentation of existing sources, rather than increasing taxes or charges.
The exercise also comes amid growing efforts by county governments across the country to strengthen own-source revenue collection as they seek to reduce dependence on national government transfers and improve their capacity to finance local services and development programmes.
By Bernard Munyao
