Trans Nzoia County Members of County Assembly on Thursday night approved a Ksh9.1 billion budget estimates for the financial year 2023/2024.
The budget will be financed through Ksh7.1 billion equitable share from the National government, Ksh643 million own source revenue and the rest through grants from development partners.
Presenting the budget estimates, Budget and Appropriation committee chairperson Martin Jamanur said “Ksh5.5 billion shillings of the money will be used for recurrent expenditures and over Ksh3.6 billion shillings will be consumed by development projects in our county.”
The Nabiswa Ward MCA said the Health department has been allocated the lion’s share of the budget.
Education and ICT department has been allocated Ksh836 million shillings.
“Ksh2.2 billion shillings have been allocated to the health department because it has the largest workforce in the county,” he added.
Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries department will receive Ksh722 million, Ksh991 million allocated the Trans Nzoia County Assembly, Ksh505 million for Water, Environment and Natural Resources Department, Ksh341 million for Trade department, and Ksh707 million for Finance and Economic Planning Department.
Others are Ksh699 million for Public Service Management, Ksh515 million for Public Works, Ksh452 million for Lands and Urban Development, Ksh293 million for Sports, Ksh215 million for Governance while Ksh68 has been allocated to the Kitale Municipal Board.
Natembeya’s flagship projects
Some of Governor George Natembeya’s flagship projects that have been allocated funds include construction of the Kenyatta Stadium which has been allocated Ksh113 million as well as the construction of Trans Nzoia County headquarters which has been allocated Ksh120 million.
Ksh50 million have also been set aside for internship programme.
Trans Nzoia County Assembly Speaker Andrew Wanyonyi said Governor Natembeya has been given green light to prudently expend the Ksh9.1 billion.
“Approval of the budget gives power to Governor George Natembeya to utilize this Ksh9.1 billion shillings in the financial year 2023/2024,” Wanyonyi stated.
In the approved budget, each of the 25 wards will receive Ksh25 million for ward specific projects to be implemented by the County Executive.
Chepsiro/Kiptoror ward Member of County Assembly Kipchumba Birir lauded the executive arm of the devolved unit for allocating funds for hiring of Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) caregivers.
“Mr. Speaker, I moved a motion requesting our county to employ ECDEs caregivers on permanent and pensionable terms and I’m glad that my request has been considered in this budget,” Birir said.
Own-source revenue
While supporting the budget, Waitaluk ward MCA Furaha Lusweti challenged the Finance Committee in the Assembly to device innovative ways in generating more own source revenue.
“If we really mean development, then we need to come up with ways of increasing own source revenue. Ksh643 million target is too little,” Lusweti noted.
Makutano ward MCA Emily Rono also lauded the Executive for allocating funds to Vocational Training Centers (VTCs) and ECDEs.
“Equipping our youths with practical technical skills is very important so that they can become self employed. We should also have a serious school feeding programme in our ECDEs,” she noted.
The ward rep further called for timely and proper implementation of all the projects in the 25 wards.
