Machakos County Assembly has unveiled a Sh12.05 billion budget for the 2021/2022 financial year, with the county targeting to collect Sh1.5 billion in revenue.
Speaking while presenting the budget estimates to the Assembly, Machakos Deputy Governor Eng. Francis W. Maliti said this year’s fiscal framework has been revised to take into account the adverse impact of the covid-19 pandemic on revenue performance.
Eng. Maliti who also doubles as County Executive Committee Member-Finance and Economic Planning noted that this year’s county budget estimates were projected at Sh12.05 billion, comprising Sh8.28 billion as recurrent expenditure while development expenditure was estimated at Sh3.77 billion. Last year, the county budget estimates were projected at Sh11.01 billion.
“In this respect, the 2021/2022 budget targets Own Source Revenue collection of Sh1.5 billion as compared to Sh1.7 billion in the financial year 2020/2021. Other revenues include Sh9.16 billion equitable share and Sh1.39 billion conditional grants,” read the Budget statement in part.
The CEC said that the spending priorities for these Budget Estimates have been informed by the efforts being made by the National and County government to stabilize the economy in a concerted effort to alleviate service delivery and contribute immensely towards improving the lives of our citizenry.
“I am happy to inform this honorable house that the County has fully adopted the Big Four Agenda especially in areas of enhancing food and nutrition security, achieving universal healthcare and job creation,” said Eng. Maliti.
The DG noted that the outbreak and rapid spread of COVID -19 pandemic necessitated an urgent need to upscale provision of affordable health services by providing free Covid -19 testing as well as sensitizing the public on the health protocols and guidelines through sensitization forums in schools, markets and places of worship.
“To consolidate these achievements Madam Speaker, I have allocated Sh4.3 billion to the health sector which includes Sh132.2 million for construction and completion of health facilities, Sh34.5 million for equipping of health facilities, Sh8.1 million to cater for emergency services and Sh355.6 million for medical supplies,” he said.
The transport sector will receive Sh1.1 billion, which will comprise of Sh170 million for major roads, Sh362 million for grading of rural access roads, Sh102 million for airstrip and Sh175 million for the completion of government building.
He noted that attainment of food and nutrition security was necessary in developing a holistic human capital base that would in turn increase productivity and enhance economic development adding that Government has been implementing various measures such as provision of subsidized certified seeds and fertilizers, free tractor services, training farmers on post-harvest management and establishing demo-farms.
“To continue supporting these initiatives Madam Speaker, I have set aside Sh400 million for relevant programmes in this budget. Out of this, Sh28 million has been proposed for the Emergency Locusts Response, Sh30.9 million for the Agricultural Sector Development Support Programme II (ASDSP II) and Sh9 million for crop diversification.
“Madam Speaker, in order to increase agricultural productivity and enhance resilience to climate change risks in targeted smallholder farming, I have set aside Sh354 million for Climate Smart Agriculture in the County,” he added.
To improve livestock production and control diseases, the county proposes Sh9.5million for purchase of certified pasture and breeding stock where Sh2.6 million has been set aside for purchase of vaccines for free mass vaccination while the Information, Communication and Technology Sector receives Sh6 million.
“Madam Speaker, in keeping with the Bill of Rights which states that water is a basic right, I have allocated Sh84.8 million for drilling, equipping and completion of boreholes, Sh50.6 million for water storage and supplies while Sh65.4 million is for construction of dams and water pans.
To continue investing in youths, the budget estimates propose an allocation of Sh50 million for the rehabilitation of Vocational Training Centers and Sh48 million for Early Childhood Development Education infrastructure.
The budget estimates propose Sh80 million for bursary fund and establishment of a revolving fund Sh40 million for women and persons living with disability while Sh75 million has been allocated in order to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
In addition, Sh65 million was allocated for the completion of Ikombe, Kinyui, Masii, Mavoko and Kenyatta Stadium stadiums which are at different levels of completion.
“Going forward Madam Speaker, to stimulate recovery of the tourism sector, the County through marketing and partnering with development partners will invest in conference facilities, set up of amusement parks, clubs, casinos, theatres and film development,” he added.
According to the Finance CEC, the County Integrated Development Programme informs the budget for 2018-2022 whose strategies were aligned to National Development Plans.
By Rachael Kilonzo
