Mombasa county launches electronic vehicle parking (e-parking) to boost revenue collection. This, according to the county administrators, is the start of a journey to digitise services in all its 10 departments.
Finance executive Mariam Mbaruk said the automation of parking fees collection will promote efficiency and stanch revenue leaks. The e-parking services, the first of its kind in the coastal region, and it targets an estimated 6,000 vehicles that use car parks in the central business (CBD) district daily.
Ms Mbaruk said the automation journey started in 2014, targeting the five main revenue generating streams.
“We want to automate all our revenue generating streams for the county to go cashless. “We want the revenue streams to integrate so that systems can communicate with one another; e-parking is the first solution,” she said. “We are doing it through a USSD from Safaricom. You only need to type *282#. With time we want to incorporate other providers.”
The 30 parking attendants working in the CBD will now be assisting motorists to navigate the new system.The county plans to automate all services and integrate departments by 2021.In the last financial year the county collected Sh3.1 billion in revenue but now seeks Sh3.9 billion this financial year.
Ms Mbaruk explained the procedure: “If you come to town and park without paying, the enforcers will have a gadget that will identify your number plate.
“So, if you have already been registered with the county, the enforcers will know that you did not pay that day. Then you will receive an SMS on your phone informing you that your car has been clamped.”
Payments will be made daily as the county explores more options.
The step has received approval from stakeholders. Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mombasa Chapter chairperson Rukiya Rashid said the move will end revenue loss.