Kenyans planning to renew their driving license will no longer be required to queue for long hours at the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA after officials from the country’s tax collector confirmed that plans are underway to partner with mobile service providers in the country to offer a mobile money payment platform.
Speaking during the Taxpayers Week yesterday, the taxing authority’s commissioner-general John Njiraini said KRA is working towards finalising on a techno-payment project that will pave the way for faster services as well as minimise congestion at KRA halls.
“In the next few months we will be able to use M-Pesa and the other options,” he said, adding that the taxing authority is also working on the collection point.
After renewing stickers courtesy of mobile money transfer services, motorists must have a convenient collecting point of stickers, he said.
“We need to increase the number of our offices considering the coming in of the next government. We are also planning to renovate the current offices to be able to put electronic platforms for various services. We also target to improve the working condition of our staff,” said KRA board chairman Major (Rtd) Marsden Madoka.
Major (Rtd) Madoka urged the treasury to increase funding allocation to the taxman as it plans to establish branches across the country.
Kenya’s 9th Taxpayers Week entails appreciating taxpayers and educating the public on the importance of paying tax. The event focuses on conducting tax clinics across the country and enlightening the public on matters of interest. It further introduces a tax club for secondary schools aimed at providing information to students on taxes.
The mobile money transfer service is now one of Kenya’s most preferred means for settling bills and other payments.Late last month, Kenya’s judiciary service commission in partnership with Kenya’s top mobile operator Safaricom unveiled an initiative that allows petty traffic offenders to pay fines through the M-pesa services dubbed Faini Chap Chap.
Chief Justice (CJ) Dr. Willy Mutunga described the move as one that would improve service delivery to lawbreakers on Kenyan roads by offering faster services, thus saving time and reducing long queues.
“The service is fast and efficient. In a bid to improve efficiency, the Judiciary and Safaricom have come together to unveil a system which will be for paying traffic fines. Faini Chap Chap would be rolled out to other courts across the country later on,” Mutunga said.
In August, a pilot project for mobile car parking payment systems in the country was unveiled by the Nairobi City Council.Nairobi Town Clerk Roba Duba said if the project succeeded it would boost service delivery.
According to a recent CCK report, the number of mobile money subscribers increased by close to 2.7 percent to approximately 19.5 million, while the total money deposits increased from US$217.6 million to US$ 226.2 million.
