- The health department has been allocated Sh3.5 billion.
- Youth, Gender, Social Services, and Sports have been allocated Sh1.5 billion.
Image: LABAN WALLOGA
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir's inaugural budget of Sh14.7 billion has prioritized health, which has received the largest allocation.
In the 2023/2024 financial year, the health department has been allocated Sh3.5 billion.
Nassir expressed his commitment to investing in healthcare by utilizing the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and securing additional funding for health facilities.
The aim is to help the underprivileged and individuals not covered adequately by the NHIF.
“Today, we have assented to the Mombasa County 2023/2024 budget, which was presented and deliberated by the County Assembly. The budget has prioritized the health services and we have invested in NHIF to ensure that those who cannot pay for health are assisted,” said Nassir.
Nassir, whose budget is Sh1 billion more compared to his predecessor Hassan Joho’s last budget of Sh13.7 billion, emphasized that his budget places significant emphasis on the well-being of the people.
Apart from the health department, the Finance and Economic Planning department received the second-largest allocation of Sh1.8 billion.
In the budget, which was approved by the county assembly on Tuesday, the Department of Public Service Administration, Youth, Gender, Social Services, and Sports has been allocated Sh1.5 billion, while Transport and Infrastructure received Sh1.2 billion.
Notably, the budget includes provisions for skills training for young people who have completed secondary school or dropped out, referred to as the Skills Mitanni program.
Furthermore, Nassir highlighted the importance of the ‘Mombasa Yangu’ Youth program, which has been able to employ thousands of youth to help in cleaning Mombasa.
In Nassir’s budget, the education sector has been allocated Sh1.2 billion.
He acknowledged the financial challenges faced by many individuals when it comes to paying school fees, and therefore, the education department has been given additional support.
“The budget envisages that most residents might not be able to pay school fees for their young ones, and as such, the education department has been given a significant chunk,” he said.
Nassir proudly stated that his administration has successfully managed all bills since they came into office in September last year.
“As we speak right now, by today, a final request is being sent to the controller of budget, and I am glad and confident to say that the county government of Mombasa closes the financial year 2022/2023 with no pending bills for the time that this administration has been in the office,” he said.
Furthermore, he assured there has been timely payment of salaries, which was a promise he made to the employees.
“We confidently and comfortably say that we have finalized the salary issues where all county employees have received their salaries on time, and we will strive to ensure that continues to happen,” said Nassir.