By A, KNA
Busia County Lands, Housing and Urban Development County Executive Committee Member (CECM) Pamela Awori has issued a stern warning to illegal revenue collectors in Malaba Municipality.
Responding to complaints from residents during a Private Sector Engagement Forum (PSEF) on Urban Roads held at Malaba Municipality Hall, Ms. Awori said unauthorized collection of revenue is undermining the county’s efforts to meet its targets.
She emphasized the need for municipalities to generate more revenue and improve profitability for business people by sealing loopholes.
“It is good news that revenue sharing for Malaba and Busia municipalities has been pegged at 4.2 percent of total revenue collected each financial year,” she said, urging managers to leverage these funds to enhance service delivery.
The CECM said the forum would help build trust between municipality boards, residents, and county government, adding that the private sector accounts for 75 percent of Kenya’s GDP.
Awori also apologized to Malaba Municipality board members for the department’s failure to organize an induction course, noting that delays arose from the lack of a fully constituted Busia Municipality board. She assured members that the process was underway.
Acknowledging challenges in service delivery, Awori revealed that the county has only one garbage truck, but another is being delivered to improve sewerage and waste management in Malaba. She further cautioned against unqualified persons posing as building contractors, stressing that only certified building inspectors would be allowed to undertake inspection work.
During the meeting, a stakeholder raised concerns over revenue collection confusion at Amoni Market, where county staff are barred from collecting fees inside the market and instead operate outside along the busy Malaba–Busia Road.
Malaba Municipality Manager Francis Asoyong said measures were being implemented to curb illegal revenue collection, including the deployment of authorized revenue officers.
He disclosed that although the county had set a revenue target oSh1.3 billion in the last financial year, it only managed to collect Sh500 million. Despite the shortfall, he termed it a major improvement compared to Sh300 million collected in 2023/24.
Asoyong compared Busia’s performance to Vihiga County, noting that despite being smaller, Vihiga raises more revenue. He challenged managers to work harder, citing the World Bank’s target of 7.5 percent annual growth for county revenues.
He added that retaining 4.2 percent of municipal revenue will boost local operations and create jobs. However, he admitted that the absence of bylaws had led to disorder in Malaba, with goats, pigs, cattle, and poultry roaming the streets.
With the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) preparing to dualize the Northern Corridor from Webuye to Malaba, Asoyong urged KeNHA to involve the municipality in drainage and stormwater management.
He also confirmed meeting with revenue directors to streamline matatu operators’ payments by ensuring SACCO registration and monthly remittances.
Addressing theft of county revenue in markets, Asoyong questioned why Kocholia market collects more than Osere centre, promising to review revenue potential in all centers.
Mr Eric Oloo a resident, proposed raising the share of retained municipal revenue to 4.33 percent annually.
“Busia County commits to adopting the framework and supporting urban areas to operationalize private sector engagement in planning and development,” Oloo said.
Malaba Municipality Board Chairman, Mr. Julius Ekwenye, expressed gratitude that Malaba is among 74 municipalities in the Kenya Urban Support Program (KUSP). He said funding from the programmes has been crucial, with the municipality receiving Sh5 million in FY 2023/24 and Sh8 million in 2024/25 against a budgeted Sh25 million.
He welcomed news that funds for Amoni Market construction had been released and expressed optimism the project would be completed within a year.
Ekwenye appealed to the county government to raise the municipal budget to at least Sh30 million. He also urged businessmen to paint buildings to enhance the town’s image as a key gateway to East and Central Africa.
“Tender for a trailer park is already out. This is our second priority project. We shall also engage county leadership to resolve the Amoni land dispute,” he said.
Board member Ishmael Orodi voiced optimism that Malaba, which began as a market, would eventually grow into a city.
Another member, Robert Imamai, regretted that Malaba remains a dirty border town plagued by disconnected streetlights, poor waste collection, and unreliable electricity.
Bishop David Otieno, representing the Jua Kali sector, stressed the sector’s importance to the municipality. He revealed that local innovators were developing a machine to create jobs for youth and that plans were underway to establish a St. John Ambulance Centre to handle emergencies along the accident-prone Koteko–Malaba stretch.
“We also intend to organize a trade fair at the border where businesses can showcase their enterprises,” Otieno added.
Teso North Sub-County Administrator Silas Juma said the Facility Improvement Fund (FIF) Act allows health centers to retain 70 percent of their revenue. He noted that Kocholia Sub-County Hospital’s X-ray unit is now functional but lamented staff shortages in laboratories and pharmacies. He announced plans to launch a locum program to engage temporary staff for night duties.
Mr Barbaras Masake criticized mismanagement in the municipality, questioning the fate of Sh32 million allocated to boda boda operators and the transfer of a municipal tractor to Busia. He also faulted the authorization of roadside kiosks by the public health department.
A resident, Ms. Akinyi, accused the fire department of neglecting residents’ safety and raised concerns about nepotism. She called for an ambulance along the Northern Corridor and expressed frustration that board members lack resources while youth workers remain unpaid.
Mr Livinstone Ete warned against importing workers for projects in Teso, especially the Webuye–Malaba dualization, saying locals must benefit from jobs.
Mr Mathew Okech Okwara alleged that issuing single receipts for matatus plying the Bungoma–Malaba route is causing revenue loss. He also urged the county to repair a tractor abandoned at the DCC offices for municipal use.