- The amount set aside for development expenditure represents 33.04 per cent of the total budget while the recurrent expenditure accounts for 66.95 per cent
- Nyeri is banking on Sh6.5 billion equitable share from the Exchequer, Sh1.3 billion conditional grants and Sh800 million own source revenue
Image: KNA
The Government of Nyeri has tabled a Sh8.7 billion budget, which is a Sh700 million increase from last year’s estimates.
The budget comprises Sh5.8 billion allocations for recurrent expenditure and Sh2.8 billion to fund development in the region.
The amount set aside for development expenditure represents 33.04 per cent of the total budget while the recurrent expenditure accounts for 66.95 per cent.
Nyeri is banking on Sh6.5 billion equitable share from the Exchequer, Sh1.3 billion conditional grants and Sh800 million own source revenue to fund the budget.
Estimates presented by Finance Executive Robert Thuo show the Health Department will receive the lion's share of the 2024/2025 budget with an allocation of Sh3 billion.
Out of this, Sh200 million will go towards supplementing the purchase of drugs and non-pharmaceuticals for the county’s health facilities.
Sh53 million was allocated for various renovations, infrastructural works, and purchase of medical equipment for rural health facilities.
In addition, Sh40 million was set aside to be used to kick start the Wamagana Level IV Hospital in Tetu sub-county.
“Notably, this is an area that has long been without such a facility,” Thuo said.
Other big winners include the County Assembly which gets Sh955.8 million and the Department of Transport, Public works and Infrastructure which Thuo is proposing a Sh744.2 million allocation.
For the Transport docket, Sh367.13 million will be dedicated to the improvement of the road network and another Sh100 million will be spent in maintaining existing streetlights and installation of new ones and high-mast floodlights.
Additionally, Sh120 million will go towards settling streetlight electricity bills.
The CEC has proposed a shift to solar power as a cost cutting measure.
“As you will notice, a significant allocation of the amount allocated to the Energy directorate has been set aside for settlement of electricity bills. Even as we seek to turn the county into a 24-hour economy, the rising and recurring cost of streetlight bills is becoming increasingly unsustainable," Thuo said.
"To address this issue, we must explore alternative methods, such as the adoption of energy-efficient LED lights and the integration of solar-powered streetlights.”
Allocation to Education, Training and Devolution was pegged at Sh 638 million and Sh545.7 million for Finance, Economic planning and ICT.
The department for Agriculture, Livestock and Aquaculture was apportioned Sh508.3 million. Out of this, Sh113.3 million will be channelled to supporting climate action projects implemented through the Nyeri county Climate Change Fund.
Unlike last year when the executive refrained from increasing levies and fees, the Finance CEC hinted at the possibility of introducing new fees as a revenue raising measure.
Some of the areas that will be hit by the proposals include traders at the Muthoni Kirima bus terminus, with the proposed introduction of market-day fees and charges for eateries.
The county is also planning to introduce new charges for filming documentaries and taking of photographs at tourism sites within the town.
“It is important to note that we have maintained our own source revenue target at Sh800 million. To achieve this target, I have submitted the Legislative Proposal on Revenue raising measures, 2024 that clearly does not intend to increase the fees and charges, but it is focused on including some fees that were not previously captured in the Revenue Administration Act 2014,” Thuo said.
Other charges proposed for review include the cost of impounding motor vehicles in rural areas from Sh500 to Sh1,000 per day to encourage compliance and a Sh4,000 increase in the penalty for motorbikes causing a nuisance due to excessive noise, from Sh1,000 to Sh5,000.
An upward adjustment in school fees for nursery schools in Karatina, Nyakinyua and King’ong’o has been proposed, from Sh900 to Sh1,000, to cater for the rise in commodity prices and sustain the school feeding program.
“I understand that the proposed increases in various charges may raise concerns among our citizens. However, these adjustments are necessary to ensure that the county government may continue to provide high-quality services and maintain our infrastructure effectively,” he said.
"Rising costs, inflation, and the need for enhanced compliance and environmental management have necessitated these changes.”