VIHIGA: The Vihiga county government has announced plans to enhance its revenue collection capabilities by hiring additional enforcement officers, a strategy deemed necessary to maintain the provision of essential services. Governor Dr. Wilber Ottichilo emphasized the importance of increasing own-source revenue as he signed the Vihiga County Finance Bill (VCFB) 2024 and the Vihiga County Agricultural Sector Coordination Mechanism (VCASCM) Bill 2024 into law.

According to Kenya News Agency, the new Finance Act is crafted to optimize revenue collection through the introduction and modification of various fees, charges, licenses, rents, and rates. The county has set an ambitious target for own-source revenue collection at approximately Sh. 257.6 million, alongside an equitable share of about Sh. 5.3 billion. Governor Ottichilo highlighted that these legislative measures were developed with comprehensive stakeholder input, as mandated by the Constitution of Kenya (CoK) 2010.

The CASCOM Act is designed to foster
collaboration among agricultural sector stakeholders to boost productivity. In line with this goal, Vihiga County has partnered with the NGO Jipange One-Acre Fund to provide capacity building and supply certified seeds to local farmers, aiming to improve returns from agricultural endeavors.