Health takes Sh2.9b of budget to fight coronavirus

Health services and infrastructure are among departments that got big allocations of the Sh7.4 billion 2020/21 budget that was unveiled on Friday.

In his budget speech, Finance executive Robert Thuo allocated the two a total of Sh3.7 billion, which accounts for almost a half of the total budget.

Health services got Sh2.9 billion with Transport and Public Works getting Sh929.9 billion.

Thuo justified the allocation, saying it will be used to contain spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, as previously planned for development activities remain deferred.

The total recurrent expenditure, Thuo said, stood at Sh5.08 billion, accounting for 68 per cent under which Sh3.2 billion would go to paying salaries and allowances of county staff.

A paltry 32 per cent of the budget will go towards development initiatives.

“Some 86 per cent of the total budget will be financed through equitable share and conditional grants from the national government. 0nly 18.6 per cent will be financed through the county budget,” the executive added.

Equitable share will account for Sh5.095 billion while conditional loans and grants amount to Sh1.394 billion.

Thuo noted the county is targeting to raise Sh1 billion in own revenue collections that has already been factored in the budget.

Agriculture, livestock and fisheries departments, the mainstay pillars of the county, have been allocated Sh553.6 million.

The CEC said fish farmers have benefited with 245,000 fingerlings and fish feeds, which were distributed among community groups in 30 dams and 45 cages.

“I want to inform you that our farmers have been provided with 8,340 avocado seedlings aimed at improving their income,” he explained.

Residents living in colonial villages will have a reason to smile after the county allocated Sh35.5 million for surveying.

During the colonial era, at least 840 villages were set up by the British government across the Central region with Nyeri County hosting the highest number at 220.

Thuo said the county had faced challenges especially in the implementation of the Sh30 million ward specific programme, which he said has been reduced to Sh16 million.

He did not specify the challenges.

This year's allocation, he said, stands at Sh480 million compared to 2019/20 where a total of Sh960 million was allocated.

In a positive move, Thuo said the county had offset all its pending bills in the previous financial years 2018/20 and "will endeavour to settle bills in the current financial year and in future to ensure no further build-up of the expenditure is incurred."