Counties prioritise healthcare as recurrent expenditure soars

Migori County Assembly speaker Christopher Rusana speaks during a past presser. [File, Standard] The health sector has received the lion's share of four counties budgets as Members of County Assemblies rushed to endorse proposals for the 2024/2025 Financial Year. Despite the allocation, Migori, Taita Taveta, Kakamega and Trans Nzoia counties are bound to continue with the struggle against recurrent expenditure and high wage bill that gobbles a huge chunk of the budget. In Migori, ward reps have endorsed a Sh10.386 billion budget that has prioritized the revival of the health sector to the tune of Sh1.95 billion.The allocation targets to improve access to healthcare services. The county assembly is also a major beneficiary in the budget after it received an allocation of Sh1 billion. Roads, Transport, Public Works, and Infrastructural Development was allocated Sh920 million, public service management, monitoring and evaluation Sh778.7 million, county executive Sh691 million and education Sh618.8 million. Other sectors include trade Sh486 million, environment Sh468.6 million, lands Sh203.9 million, county executive Sh128 million, among others. However, recurrent expenditure will take about Sh6.9 billion of the budget at 66.9 percent, leaving only Sh3.4 billion for development. Assembly members passed it hours after a Budget Report was tabled and moved before the House by the Committee chair Graham Kagali. Follow the law The Assembly's speaker Christopher Rusana urged the County leadership to ensure implementation of all programmes is conducted as outlined in the County Budget for the benefit of Migori people. Similarly, in Trans Nzoia, the Health department took the lion's share of the Sh9.9 billion budget estimates for the Trans Nzoia county government approved by the county Assembly. The appropriation bill was presented by Martin Jamanuru, County Assembly's budget committee chairman and Nabiswa ward MCA, and was adopted by the House following deliberations. The county has allocated Sh6 billion towards recurrent expenditure and Sh3.9 billion for development. The health department received a total allocation of Sh2.3 billion for personnel and emoluments, and Sh162.9 million for development projects, which includes Sh26 million budgeted for completion and equipping of Wamalwa Kijana Teaching and Referral Hospital. The upgrade of Bikeke Hospital, including installation of a new theater and roof, was allocated Sh10 million, while Cherang'any sub-County Hospital received Sh26 million while Sh10 million was earmarked for the construction of Khalwenge Health Center. Other healthcare infrastructure projects included in the budget are a Sh5 million allocation for constructing a mental health unit at Kitale County Hospital, and Sh5 million each for building Sinoko Dispensary and Weonia Dispensary. Additionally, Sh1 million each has been earmarked for buying assorted medical equipment at Muroki Dispensary, Berur Dispensary, Kapkoi Health Center, Twiga Dispensary, Muungano Dispensary, and Kiminini Health Center Maternity. In Taita Taveta, MCAs have endorsed a Sh8.3 billion budget with recurrent expenditure getting a lion's share of 67.4 percent of the allocations. Contributing to the County Appropriation Bill, 2024, Members of the County Assembly decried the ballooning wage bill which currently stands at 53 per cent. This is above the recommended 35 percent. The MCAs also criticized the executive over stalled development projects and low absorption rates in the development funds. In this budget, Sh2.7billion was allocated for development. Yesterday, the Assembly Deputy Speaker Anselim Mwadime said the low absorption rate in development has impacted negatively on the socio-economic status of the local community. "We have passed the budget estimates and appropriation bill, and we are giving the Executive one month to start the projects, failing which heads will roll. We want a 100 pe cent absorption rate in development projects," added the deputy speaker. In Kakamega, Governor Fernades Baraza's administration is hoping to implement a number of development projects after the MCAs endorsed his Sh17.8 billion budget. On June 26, 2024, during a virtual session, the Assembly unanimously endorsed the Kakamega County Budget Estimates and the Appropriations Bill, outlining a comprehensive financial strategy totaling Sh17.8 billion. Led by Gildon Shioso, Butsotso South Ward Rep and Chairperson of Budget and Appropriations Committee, the Assembly deliberated on a detailed report that showed the county's financial framework for the upcoming fiscal year. [Report by Anne Atieno, Martin Ndiema, Renson Mnyamwezi and Mary Imenza]

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