Nairobi County to launch Jitambulishe verification system to tackle harassment by fake county staff

Nairobi County is set to introduce a digital verification system aimed at curbing the growing problem of imposters posing as county employees and harassing business owners in the city.

The new platform, named Jitambulishe, will be launched in January 2024, providing an easy way for businesses to confirm the identity of Nairobi County staff before engaging with them.

During an interview on Wednesday night at Citizen TV, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja revealed that the system will allow business owners to verify county employees through a digital badge linked to their identity and photograph.

"This initiative is crucial to end the harassment that many business owners face when imposters claim to be county officials. Starting in January, every county staff member will be required to carry a badge, which can be easily verified online," he explained.

The introduction of Jitambulishe comes after several complaints from businesses about fake county workers demanding payments and intimidating entrepreneurs.

The new system aims to ensure that only legitimate county staff interact with business owners, allowing them to focus on their operations without fear of exploitation.

"This will allow business owners to check whether the person approaching them is a verified staff member. If they're genuine, you'll see their name and photo through the online platform," Sakaja said.

The move to digital verification is part of Governor Sakaja's broader strategy to modernise Nairobi's local government operations.

Earlier this year, Sakaja's administration rolled out a unified business permit that consolidates multiple licenses into one, enabling businesses to apply for permits from the comfort of their homes.

"No cash" policy

Additionally, all revenue collection processes have been fully digitised, with a strict "no cash" policy in place across the county.

"We raised 12.8 billion this year, surpassing our target, and we're on track to hit 20 billion next year. This success is due to our focus on digital transformation and eliminating inefficiency and corruption," Sakaja said, highlighting the county's improved revenue collection performance.

"We're not just creating systems for the sake of it. We know what we're doing, and it's about delivering results for the people of Nairobi," he added.

The new Jitabulishe system will also enhance the county's efforts to prevent corruption by ensuring all county officials are publicly identifiable and accountable.

Through the platform, business owners will be able to cross-check the identity of any staff member they interact with, ensuring that they are legitimate and authorised by the county government.

Governor Sakaja emphasised that these initiatives aim to create a transparent and efficient government that serves its citizens effectively.

"The key is to build trust. By going digital, we are making it easier for people to interact with the county government, without the fear of exploitation or fraud," he added.

Throughout this year, Nairobi residents have been cautioned against falling into traps of rogue City Hall staff pretending to collect revenue.

Sakaja has constantly warned that city residents should be on the lookout for unscrupulous staff and imposters pretending to aid and bypass revenue collection channels.

The county boss reminded people that City Hall operates on a no-cash policy in terms of revenue collection.

"I would like to inform Nairobians that we do not accept any cash payment for our services," he said. Sakaja urged members of the public to report any City Hall revenue officer asking for payment in cash or pretending to 'assist' outside the digital system. Please report them to 020 7247047 or send an email to [email protected] and we will take immediate action," he noted.