By Mohamed Siyad - Reporter
Kenya, 23 April 2026 - The 3rd Own Source Revenue (OSR) Growth Conference, held in Nairobi, brought together key stakeholders from national and county governments, development partners, and private sector representatives to address the critical issue of financial sustainability for counties.
Under the leadership of Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, who is also the Chair of the Council of Governors, and Garissa Governor Nathif Jama Adam, the conference focused on strategies to enhance counties’ ability to generate their own revenue.
Discussions explored innovative approaches and best practices to help counties diversify their revenue streams, improve tax collection mechanisms, and foster public-private partnerships.
Participants emphasised the importance of collaboration between different levels of government and the private sector in driving local economic growth.
The conference also highlighted the need for capacity building within county administrations to effectively manage resources and implement revenue-generating initiatives.
The event served as a pivotal platform for sharing insights, identifying challenges, and crafting actionable solutions to bolster the financial independence of counties, enabling them to better meet the needs of their citizens and contribute to national development goals.
In his address, Governor Abdullahi set the tone with a clear reminder: “Own Source Revenue does not replace allocations to counties from nationally raised revenue — it is a constitutional obligation. Our focus should therefore be on optimising OSR collection for each county.”
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He pointed to urbanisation as one of the greatest opportunities for counties, noting its potential to unlock critical land-based revenues through property taxes, land rates, and development approvals.
However, he also acknowledged the persistent barriers slowing progress — from outdated valuation rolls and fragmented land records to weak system integration and revenue leakages.
The conference was also attended by Kenya Revenue Authority Chair Ndiritu Muriithi, the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Devolution Michael Lenasalon, development partners, and other key stakeholders.
Unlocking OSR will require deliberate reforms, stronger municipal governance, better land administration, and the full embrace of technology and data to drive efficiency, transparency, and accountability.