Residents, traders and business owners in Kitui are being given an opportunity to influence how the county raises revenue after the County Government launched public participation on the proposed Kitui County Finance Bill 2026/2027.
The exercise is bringing county officials closer to residents at the grassroots, allowing members of the public to examine proposed fees, charges and revenue measures before the Bill proceeds through the county legislative process.
In Kitui South, the engagement was led by Director of Revenue Management Roselyne Kavata, who spearheaded discussions with residents and other stakeholders on the proposed changes contained in the Finance Bill.
The public participation exercise is being undertaken in line with constitutional requirements on public involvement in county financial matters. Residents have been encouraged to submit memoranda and proposals on the proposed rates, fees and charges or attend the scheduled public forums.
The County Government has scheduled public participation meetings across all eight sub-counties in an effort to take the Finance Bill discussion closer to communities. The venues include ATC in Kitui Central, Mwingi Resource Centre, Mutomo Service Hall, AIC Zombe, ACK Kyusyani, Kitui West Sub-County offices, the TSC Hall in Mwingi West and the Mwingi North Youth Empowerment Centre in Kyuso.
According to the Finance Bill public participation booklet, the proposed framework largely maintains existing charges while introducing new categories and making targeted adjustments in selected areas.
Of the 25 fee lines reviewed, 12 have no increase, while 10 represent new revenue sources or new categories. Two fee lines have targeted increases, while one proposed charge has been earmarked for removal.
Among the notable proposals is a new annual charge of KSh5,000 for commercial tuk-tuks and motorcycles used for transportation. The Bill also proposes reducing the fee for authorised telecommunications agents from KSh40,000 to KSh20,000.
The county is further proposing a reduction in private borehole drilling service fees from KSh50,000 to KSh30,000. New business categories are also proposed, including electric motorcycle and vehicle battery charging stations, larger second-hand clothing chains, selected hospitality businesses and new classifications for pool-table establishments.
For residents and the business community, the participation forums offer an important opportunity to question the proposed measures, identify areas of concern and make recommendations. The views gathered during the process will inform the consideration of the Finance Bill as it moves through the county’s legislative process.
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