Government Reforms That Have Made Business More Efficient

With the high usage and access to internet in the country, Kenya has taken a step ahead to use the internet as a platform to improve businesses. Over the years, the government of Kenya has tried to make business easier, faster and more efficient to the Kenyan citizens; here are some of the reforms that are working out fine.

Huduma centers

Huduma, which means “service” in Swahili, is part of a government plan to fully digitize government services; a ‘one stop shop’ approach in reforming service delivery in Kenya. Huduma Kenya involves amalgamating related services within one building, possibly on the same floor, effectively making it possible for service seekers to access it conveniently. Enabling citizens to access birth certificates, national identity cards, passports, registration of business names, PIN number,NSSF,single business permit and applications for marriage certificates, drivers’ licenses, police abstract and many other services in one place.

E-construction permit system

An automated construction permit system meant to reduce the time needed to review applications and ease the burden on county officers. Reviewers can simultaneously assess and comment on applications, reducing the time to issue a permit from between at most 20 days to a maximum of three days.

The automated system will also enable higher volumes of issued construction permits from the present monthly average of 80 without increasing human resources. The e-construction permit management system (eCP) will encourage best practices among architects in the construction industry. Inspection officers are also expected to use the system in generating reports and profiling of ongoing construction projects according to risks.

Kenya National Electronic Single Window System

KNESW System is an initiative of the Kenya Vision 2030 to facilitate trade, customs clearance, competitiveness and to reduce the cost of trade thus promoting the economy. The system aims to provide the trading community and all stakeholders a single access point for all external trade related services and to meet the legal requirement of the trade. The key stakeholders of the KNESWS are Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Kenya Port Authority (KPA) and Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) among others. The main features of the KNESWS are: Arrival Notices, Electronic Declaration Submission Payment, Electronic Manifest Submission, Permits & Licenses and access to all trade related Procedures and updates.

iTax

iTax is the system that has been developed to replace the current KRA Online system. It is a web enabled and secure application system that provides a fully integrated and automated solution for administration of domestic taxes. Enables Taxpayer internet based PIN registration, returns filing, payment registration to allow for tax payments and status inquiries with real time monitoring of accounts.

iTAX has simplified tax processes and made it easy for Taxpayers to comply,shortened time taken to extract data and information on revenue and finally reduced time taken by Taxpayers when dealing with KRA .

IFMIS

Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) is an automated system that enhances efficiency in planning budgeting, procurement, expenditure management and reporting in the National and County Governments in Kenya. If adopted, IFMIS will streamline the whole public procurement process leading to transparency and accountability, ensuring fair dealings in the tendering process.