Nakuru unveils Sh15 billion budget as city status beckons

Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui addressing the press at his office at Milimani on January 7,2019,He challenged Jubilee Leadership to use party mechanism to resolves disputes over the President Uhuru Kenyatta's succession.

Nakuru county government plans to spend Sh15.3 billion in the next financial year.

The allocations in the 2019-2020 budget has factored in Sh1.084 billion grant by the World Bank.

This will be for setting up the Nakuru and Naivasha municipality boards.

Most of the money will go towards running Governor Lee Kinyanjui’s administration following a Sh10 billion (66 per cent) allocation to recurrent expenditure.

Salaries and wages alone will take up Sh6 billion in the budget while development is allocated Sh5.4 billion, which translates to 34 per cent.

The second biggest allocation in the budget is towards health services; Sh5.673 billion goes to provision of medical services.

According to the document seen by The Standard, Sh40 million will be used to upgrade Molo Sub-county Hospital, Sh70 million will go towards acquisition of medical and dental equipment for level Four and Five hospitals while Sh200 million will be spent on putting up an outpatient complex at Nakuru level Five Hospital.

The health sector also expects grants to the tune of Sh688 million.

Towards achieving city status, the county government has allocated Sh81million for planning of urban centres, Sh16.8 million to survey trading centres, Sh7.9 million for purchase of survey equipment, Sh27.7 million for rehabilitation and development of housing infrastructure.

Not to forget the Sh1.084 billion conditional grant to set up Nakuru and Naivasha municipality boards.

Through the World Bank funded Urban Development Grant, the Kenya Urban Support Programme, the county has prioritised construction of a Sh300 million market in Naivasha, a fire station, storm water drains, Sh1 billion stadium and upgrading of roads and Moi Estate.

Governor Kinyanjui’s pet project-Boresha Barabara initiative has been allocated Sh89 million for acquisition of 2 graders and 4 tippers.

In the 2018/2019 budget, equipment worth Sh200million were purchased to strengthen the program.

Under the project, Sh30 million will go to construction and rehabilitation of major urban roads, another Sh30 million on construction of storm water drains and foot-bridges.

To improve food production especially avocado and pyrethrum farming, Sh70 million will be spent on purchasing seedlings. Another Sh85 million for purchase of veterinary and agricultural supplies to combat pest and diseases.

The county assembly has been allocated Sh1.203 billion.