The Senate Standing Committee on Information, Communication, and Technology members being received in Machakos by Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti. Photo by Governor’s Press. 
By Andrew Mbuva
The Senate Standing Committee on Information, Communication, and Technology has commended the Machakos County Government, led by Governor Wavinya Ndeti, for being among the top-performing devolved units in adopting and implementing ICT-driven systems.
The committee, chaired by Senator Allan Chesang, toured Machakos on an oversight mission to review the performance of the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) and County Revenue Management Systems, with a focus on how they impact accountability, revenue collection, and service delivery.
Speaking during the visit, Senator Chesang lauded Machakos for setting a benchmark in digital transformation, noting that the county has registered significant growth in revenue collection, especially within the health sector.
“We are impressed with Machakos County. After our inquiry into the systems, we have seen they are truly functional. In hospital revenue collection, for instance, growth is remarkable — KSh30 million in the first year, KSh230 million in the second, and now KSh775 million. This speaks volumes about a working system. We encourage other counties to embrace such innovations,” said Chesang.
On his part, Senator Samson Cherargei, a member of the committee, acknowledged the county’s progress but also highlighted challenges facing devolved units, particularly delays in disbursements under the Social Health Authority (SHA).
“It is unfortunate that SHA owes this county close to KSh500 million. We demand a thorough audit of the system to protect counties from unnecessary financial strain. A functional devolved unit must have a strong health system, and Machakos has shown commendable results in both infrastructure and service delivery,” said Cherargei.
He further faulted the national government for attempting to roll out e-procurement in counties without consultation, emphasizing that both levels of government are distinct and semi-autonomous.
“The push to impose e-procurement without consultation is unconstitutional. Counties must be consulted, and piloting should be done first. We welcome the court’s decision to stop the rollout until proper procedures are followed,” he added.
The committee stressed the importance of reinforcing revenue streams through technology to improve accountability and enhance service delivery across all devolved units. The visit forms part of the Senate’s wider oversight efforts to strengthen financial management and digital governance in counties.
