The Senate Standing Committee on Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) has commended Machakos County for its achievements in digitizing revenue and financial systems, noting impressive growth in collections while also flagging challenges that threaten service delivery.

During the oversight visit, committee chairperson Senator Allan Chesang (Trans Nzoia) applauded the county for moving from manual systems to a fully automated revenue platform. He noted that hospital collections had risen from just Sh30 million before digitization to Sh775 million this year. “Governor, you have shown commendable progress in closing loopholes and boosting revenue. How sustainable are these gains?” he asked.

Governor Wavinya Ndeti responded that the reforms were anchored on ICT and accountability. She explained that revenue is now processed through a single system linked to IFMIS, with audit trails monitoring every transaction. She added that consolidating more than 200 paybill numbers into only four had eliminated revenue leakages and strengthened oversight.

Senator Samson Cherarkey (Nandi) pressed further, raising concerns about historical loopholes. “Previously, Machakos had hundreds of paybill numbers and more than 20 commercial accounts. Have you sealed all these leakages?” he asked.

The CEC for Finance said inactive accounts had been closed and funds swept into the County Revenue Fund. He stressed that today all revenue passes through one official account, improving accountability and reporting.

On the technical side, Senator Hezena Lemaletian (Nominated, ODM) questioned the security of the systems. “Is your system fully integrated with IFMIS, and how safe is it from cyber threats?” she asked.

The Director of ICT assured the committee that the system was fully integrated and backed by regular security audits. He explained that logins are tracked by IP address to detect fraud and that backup servers ensure continuity during outages.

Senator William Kisang (Elgeyo Marakwet) then turned to land revenue. “What progress have you made on valuation rolls and titling to strengthen collections?” he asked. The Finance CEC said a new valuation roll was under inspection and, once adopted, would significantly boost land rate collections and improve fairness.

Senator Issa Boy (Kwale) compared Machakos’ system to his county’s. “How do you manage transport and parking revenue digitally?” he asked. The ICT Director explained that Machakos had developed a mobile application linked to M-Pesa, eliminating cash handling and reducing collusion while boosting compliance.

Finally, Senator Beatrice Ogolla (Nominated, ODM) asked about outstanding payments. “Governor, you mentioned that Machakos is owed over Sh500 million by the Social Health Authority. How are you coping with these delays?” she asked.

Governor Ndeti acknowledged that the arrears were straining health services. She explained that while the county continues to treat patients daily, the unpaid claims were making it difficult to sustain services. She added that Machakos was engaging with SHA to fast-track reimbursements but warned that counties could not carry the burden indefinitely.

Closing the session, Senator Chesang reaffirmed the Senate’s commitment. “Our duty under Article 96 is to protect county interests. Machakos demonstrates how ICT can transform revenue management, and we will also push for solutions on pending reimbursements,” he said.