Governor Jonathan Bii’s administration in Uasin Gishu will implement a Sh9.8 billion budget for the Financial Year 2023-24, in which he will roll out his ten-point development plan commonly known as 'Nguzo Kumi.'
Finance executive Micah Rogony tabled the budget estimates at the county assembly on Wednesday.
Rogony said the priority areas for Bii’s administration in the next financial year include water, health, agriculture and food security, trade, cooperatives and enterprise development, education and skills development, infrastructure development and ICT among others.
The Finance CEC said they would be implementing a balanced budget to be financed with Sh8. 4 billion in equitable shareable revenue, Sh1.2 billion as own source revenue and Sh278 million as conditional grants.
“The budget will comprise recurrent expenditure of Sh6.8 billion and development expenditure of Sh3 billion which translates to 69 and 31 percent, respectively," Rogony said.
"We are therefore in compliance with the fiscal responsibility principles outlined in section 107(2)(b) of the PFM Act, 2012. We will also ensure that this requirement is not only met in terms of allocations but is fulfilled in actual expenditure."
The county has allocated Sh2.3 billion to the administration and governance sector which comprises the office of the governor, finance and economic planning, public service management, administration and devolution units, county public service board and the county assembly.
The budget has also set aside Sh155 million for medical insurance for staff while another Sh50 million has been allocated for the preparation of the Devolution Conference to be held in the county in August.
The county plans to spend Sh1.9 billion on infrastructure with a target to improve more than 1,000 kilometres of roads in the region.
Bii’s team also plans to spend Sh454 million on community water projects and another Sh1.3 billion in the agriculture sector.
Health sector will take up Sh2.5 billion while trade, co-operatives and tourism will spend Sh501 million. The county allocated Sh1.2 billion for ward projects under the equitable development plan.
Since Bii took office almost a year ago, Rogony said the county has made several achievements including the revival of the revolving fund pharmacy, supply of drugs and commodities directly to facilities from Kemsa.
The CEC added that Bii has managed to fully equip Reference Laboratory and Aflatoxin Testing Centre at Huruma Hospital, operationalised theatres at Kapteldon and Burnt Forest hospitals, and modernised and equipped the isolation centre.
“In addition, we have confirmed 1258 ECDE teachers, rolled out the school milk programme, and commissioned Moiben subcounty office among other projects," Rogony said.
He also cited challenges the county is facing such as delayed exchequer releases which affect project implementation, below-target own source revenue collection, pending bills, and ballooning wage bills.