Governor Jonathan Bii's administration is targeting to collect Sh1.4 billion own revenue annually to enable Uasin Gishu to run smoothly.
Former Governor Jackson Mandago's administration was able to collect Sh1.2 billion internal revenue only once in 10 years. In most cases, Mandago’s team managed to get about Sh1 billion.
Deputy Governor John Barorot said each department in the county will have targets for its own source revenue collection annually.
“It’s about teamwork if we have to achieve all that we plan to do and so each department will have to play its role effectively,” he said.
Speaking to new county executives and other staff, Barorot said during Mandago's regime, budget absorption was on average 62 per cent.
That means about 38 per cent of the county’s average budget of Sh7.8 billion annually was not utilised.
“We will now be focusing on the absorption rate for the development budget and we will give all departments targets on budget absorption higher than what was achieved during the previous administration,” Barorot said.
He said the new administration would work under a strict performance culture to meet targets and deliver to residents.
“The governor will be measured by voters after five years, but for other employees you will be measured as per your performance every year,” Barorot said.
He said another measure on the performance of the executives would be based on the uptake of the performance culture within the human resource in each department.
Barorot said all county executives in Uasin Gishu will sign performance contracts every year, detailing clear objectives, targets and plans to achieve the delivery of services.
He said the executives will work under clear plans to ensure the county administration implements its vision within the next five years.
Barorot said the executives will also have to ensure full and effective absorption of the development budget.
“We will put in place what we call smart objectives meaning the objectives will have to be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound,” the deputy governor said.
Meanwhile, the Israeli government has pledged to partner with Uasin Gishu to implement development projects in the water, agriculture and health sectors.
Ambassador Michael Lotem said they were interested in projects and activities that would help alleviate poverty and improve the livelihoods of residents.
Lotem said they would work with Governor Bii to identify projects that would have a positive impact on the county's economy.
The envoy spoke when he paid a courtesy call on Governor Bii in Eldoret. Bii said his main focus is to deliver on all promises he made to residents.
