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Sakaja deploys compliance teams across city to boost revenue collection

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja. The Nairobi County Government has deployed compliance and enforcement teams across all the 17 sub-counties. (Photo: X/ Johnson Sakaja)

By Maureen Kinyanjui | 17 Apr 2024

The officers will visit business premises across the city to ensure that each of them has complied with the directive to obtain a Unified Business Permit (UBP) and other relevant permits after a three-month grace period.

In a bid to boost revenue collection, the Nairobi County Government has deployed compliance and enforcement teams across all the 17 sub-counties.

As announced on Tuesday, the officers will visit business premises across the city to ensure that each of them has complied with the directive to obtain a Unified Business Permit (UBP) and other relevant permits after a three-month grace period.

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The move, according to Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja comes as the county aims to meet its Sh20 billion revenue target for the current financial year, which ends on June 30, 2024

"We are determined to ensure that all businesses comply with the necessary regulations and obtain the Unified Business Permit (UBP) and other relevant permits," the governor said on Tuesday.

The enforcement teams, equipped with legitimate staff ID cards featuring QR codes for verification, will visit business premises to ensure compliance with various requirements, including payment of land rates, parking fees, building permits, and approvals.

The team will also verify the status of UBPs and check for fire certificates, medical and health certificates, among other fees outlined in the Finance Act 2024.

"We have streamlined our identification process to ensure that our officers are properly uniformed and equipped to verify the validity of UBPs," Sakaja emphasised.

Ease-of-doing business

Beginning January 1, 2024, City Hall activated the electronic Unified Business Permit regime, as part of an ease-of-doing business reform initiative.

The UBP combines the business, fire, food, health, and advertising licenses into one, and will be available on the Nairobi City County Government's NairobiPay Revenue service online portal.

The activation of the UBP regime eliminates the issuance of multiple licenses.

Going further, to enhance transparency and protect city residents, the names of the enforcement officers will be published in local newspapers and on the county website.

The teams, comprising sub-county administration officers and revenue officials, have the authority to arrest those who fail to fulfil their financial obligations.

Governor Sakaja has further outlined plans to regularise developments in the county and facilitate the acquisition of title deeds for property owners.

"We are committed to correcting past urban planning lapses and implementing measures to protect property owners," he added.

This financial year, Sakaja aims to collect Sh19.9 billion in its own source revenue in the Financial Year 2023-24.

For revenue payers, the governor advised them to visit the NairobiPay e-service Portal (www.nairobiservices.go.ke), City Hall Annexe customer service Centre offices, or any Sub-county finance offices for further clarification.

He also reminded the residents that payments made through USSD Number *647# go to Cooperative Bank under account name Nairobi City County Revenue Collection, Account number 01141709410000 or Equity Bank under account name Nairobi City County Revenue Collection, Account number 1770279910476.