Nakuru assembly gives nod to Sh18bn county budget

Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui. His administration can now start spending Sh18 billion after the county assembly unanimously passed the Appropriation Bill. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • At least Sh8 billion will be used for development while Sh6 billion will go towards paying salaries.
  • The budget will closely be monitored by the residents as Mr Kinyanjui promised to turn around the county’s economy.
  • All eyes will be on the wobbling Health department which will spend Sh4 billion by June 30, 2019.

Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui’s administration can now start spending Sh18 billion after the county assembly unanimously passed the Appropriation Bill.

At least Sh8 billion will be used for development while Sh6 billion will go towards paying salaries to a bloated workforce of more than 5,000 workers.

The Bill which was tabled in the House on Tuesday gives Mr Kinyanjui a chance to start implementing his ambitious projects in the county.

This is the first budget for Governor Kinyanjui since he took up office.

TURN AROUND ECONOMY

The budget will closely be monitored by the residents as Mr Kinyanjui promised to turn around the county’s economy by improving infrastructure and agriculture which is the backbone of the region’s economy.

At the same time, all eyes will be on the wobbling Health department which will spend Sh4 billion by June 30, 2019.

The critical department has been rocked by strikes and shortage of drugs and staff.

Governor Kinyanjui has launched an ambitious project dubbed Boresha Barabara to rehabilitate the dilapidated roads.

ROADS PROJECT

And to emphasize his seriousness in undertaking this project to its successful completion, Mr Kinyanjui’s office will be in charge of the project unlike in the previous regime where it was handled at the ward level by MCAs.

Mr Kinyanjui is planning to spend Sh2 billion in this project.

Already, work in some of the 55 wards is ongoing with the residents praising the initiative.

The revival of the pyrethrum sub-sector is also at the heart of Governor Kinyanjui’s plans and this financial year, the Agriculture department will spend Sh460 million in capital expenditure.

TOURISM

But the county may not be able to realise its dream of marketing itself as only Sh362 million will be spent by the department of Trade, Industry and Tourism.

Nearly Sh1 billion will be spent by the department Finance and Economic Planning which raised its revenue collection in the first year of the current administration by Sh320 million, giving hope of increased revenue in the current financial year.

“We have sealed some of the loopholes and we shall continue sealing them until we realise our target of collecting Sh2.5 billion per annum,” said Governor Kinyanjui.