The County Government of Nyeri has tabled a Sh8.7 billion budget comprising of Sh5.8 billion allocations for recurrent expenditures while dedicating Sh2.8 billion to fund development in the county.
This year’s budget is a Sh700 million increase from last year’s estimates, when the county executive tabled a Sh8 million budget. The amount set aside for development expenditure represents 33.04 per cent of the total budget, while recurrent expenditure accounts for 66.95 per cent.
Nyeri County is banking on a Sh6.5 billion equitable share from the exchequer, Sh1.3 billion in conditional grants, and Sh800 million in its own source of revenue to fund the budget.
According to the estimates presented by Nyeri County Committee Executive Member in Charge of Finance and Economic Planning, Robert Thuo, the county Department of Health will receive the lion’s share of the 2024–2025 budget. Should the County Assembly approve the estimates, the Health Department will receive Sh3 billion.
Out of this, some Sh200 million will go towards supplementing the purchase of drugs and non-pharmaceuticals for the county’s health facilities. The CEC has also allocated some Sh53 million for various renovations, infrastructural works, and the purchase of medical equipment for rural health facilities across the county. This is in addition to setting aside Sh40 million, which will be used to kick start the Wamagana Level IV Hospital in Tetu Sub-County.
“Notably, this is an area that has long been without such a facility,” said Thuo.
Other big winners include the County Assembly, with a Sh955.8 million allocation, and the Department of Transport, Public Works, and Infrastructure, for which Thuo is proposing a Sh744.2 million allocation in this year’s budget.
For the transport docket, the Finance CEC says Sh367.13 million will be dedicated to the improvement of the road network across the county, and another Sh100 million will be spent on maintaining existing streetlights as well as the installation of new streetlights and high-mast floodlights.
Additionally, Thuo also proposed that the county set aside Sh120 million, which will go towards settling streetlight electricity bills; similarly, the CEC is proposing a shift to solar power as a cost-cutting measure for the county.
“As you will notice, a significant allocation of the amount allocated to the Energy Directorate has been set aside for the settlement of electricity bills. Even as we seek to turn the county into a 24-hour economy, the rising and recurring cost of streetlight bills is becoming increasingly unsustainable. To address this issue, we must explore alternative methods, such as the adoption of energy-efficient LED lights and the integration of solar-powered streetlights,” cautioned Thuo.
Other departments with considerable allocations include Education, Training, and Devolution at Sh 638 million, while Finance, Economic Planning, and ICT were apportioned Sh 545.7 million. Thuo also allocated the county department for Agriculture, Livestock, and Aquaculture Sh508.3 million. Out of this, Sh113.3 million will be channelled to supporting climate action projects, which will be implemented through the Nyeri County Climate Change Fund.
Unlike last year, when the executive refrained from increasing levies and fees, the Finance CEC hinted at the possibility of introducing new fees as a revenue-raising measure.
Some of the areas that will be hit by the proposals include traders at the Muthoni Kirima bus terminus, where Thuo is proposing the introduction of market-day fees and charges for eateries at the bus terminus. The county is also planning to introduce new charges for filming documentaries and taking of photographs at tourism sites within the town.
“It is important to note that we have maintained our own source revenue target of Sh800 million. To achieve this target, I have submitted the Legislative Proposal on Revenue Raising Measures, 2024, which clearly does not intend to increase the fees and charges, but is focused on including some fees that were not previously captured in the Revenue Administration Act 2014,” said Thuo.
Other charges that Thuo is proposing be increased include the cost of impounding motor vehicles in rural areas from Sh500 to Sh1,000 per day to encourage compliance. The county executive is also proposing an upward adjustment in school fees for nursery schools in Karatina, Nyakinyua, and King’ong’o areas from Sh900 to Sh1,000 to cater for the rise in commodity prices and sustain the school feeding programme.
Thuo is also proposing a Sh4,000 increase in the penalty for motorbikes causing a nuisance due to excessive noise from Sh1,000 to Sh5,000.
“I understand that the proposed increases in various charges may raise concerns among our citizens. However, these adjustments are necessary to ensure that the county government may continue to provide high-quality services and maintain our infrastructure effectively. Rising costs, inflation, and the need for enhanced compliance and environmental management have necessitated these changes,” stated Thuo.
By Wangari Mwangi
