Makueni County Boosts Services with Technological Innovations
Makueni County – The Makueni County government is embracing technology to improve its service delivery and expand access to its services. Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior highlighted this technological shift in his recent State of the County address at the assembly in Wote, noting significant advancements in revenue collection, health services, and overall management systems.
According to Kenya News Agency, the integration of the Lands Information Management System (LIMS) with the E-revenue Management System has been instrumental in increasing the county’s own-source revenue. “The county has mobilized the highest Own Source Revenue (OSR) of Sh. 891 million in FY2022/23, up from previously Sh 749 Million,” he stated. This achievement, a record since 2013, was partly credited to the My County App, developed in partnership with Safaricom. The app provides a unified platform for revenue collection and digitizes various county government operations, enabling residents to access services from anywhere in the world.
Mutula also emphasized the county’s strides in healthcare innovation. The use of Proximie, a telemedicine technology platform, allows health workers to utilize cameras in theaters for remote support, teaching, and auditing operations. The Maisha Med digital health commodities management system, currently successful in 13 health facilities, is another example of the county’s commitment to healthcare innovation. “We are in the process of establishing an end-to-end automation of health services through a County Integrated Health Management Information System (CIHMIS),” he added, outlining plans for a system that will manage patient care, track health products, and handle revenue management across all health facilities.
The county’s digital service innovations extend to water management, with the installation of automated Water Dispensing Machines in 23 Water Kiosks. This initiative has significantly reduced Non-Revenue Water and saved time for residents fetching water.
Makueni’s efforts in leveraging technology for improved service delivery and social accountability were nationally recognized with the Ugatuzi award from the Office of the Ombudsman. “On the 23rd November 2023, The Commission of Administrative Justice (Office of the Ombudsman) gave me the Huduma Ombudsman Award in its Fourth Edition,” Governor Mutula proudly shared.