Governor Ndiritu Muriithi Unveils Kshs 8.1bn Economic Revival Budget
From laikipia.go.ke
Laikipia has unveiled the 2021/2022 budget that largely focuses on uplifting the county economy that has been heavily battered by the Covid-19 pandemic for the last 15 months. The pandemic watered down all efforts that had been made towards the growth of the economy. These tough times have necessitated the County Government of Laikipia to purpose its 2021/2022 programmes mainly to inject liquidity across the county for citizens to have money in their pockets.
The 2021/2022 spending proposal contains deliberate focus on reviving and bringing the county economy back on its feet through a number of interventions. First, the county government intends to maintain a sustainable health care through various interventions. It has set aside Kshs45 million to equip health facilities while Kshs84 million will go towards buying of drugs and other medical supplies. Nanyuki and Nyahururu referral hospitals will get Kshs160.7 million and Kshs140.7 million respectively.
To cater for the very poor of our society, Kshs30 million was set aside as NHIF subsidies while Kshs33 million will be used as stipend for the community health volunteers. Remuneration of medical personnel will be Kshs1.8 billion within the 2021/2022 period. Manufacturing.
Secondly, to ensure liquidity in the market, the county government has prioritized payment of pending bills as the first charge by all the departments. It has set aside Kshs700 million for this purpose. The enterprise and cooperative development funds will get Kshs20 million while an additional Kshs30 million will be added to financial institutions to unlock Kshs3 billion as loans to the Laikipia business sector.
To spur manufacturing Ksh15 million will be set aside for developing the Rumuruti Special Economic Zone, while Kshs34 million will go towards other manufacturing support. The youth will get Kshs 30 million through bursary, scholarships and sports. The County Government of Laikipia will support its elaborate programme to provide water for production through its entities-Nawasco and Nyahuwasco- to increase the area under irrigation from 5,000 acres in 2019 to 50,000 acres.
In addition, the department of water will spend more than Ksh45 million in equipping boreholes and provision of water while Kshs166 million more will be used to expand dams and reticulation of water. Infrastructure, being an economic enabler and a key deliverable for the county government has been allocated Kshs1.2 billion. With Kshs 280 million going towards the leasing programme from which at 60 kilometres per ward will be graded and graveled within the financial year. Kshs933 million has been set aside for the upgrade of our town centres and markets. This is intended to spur economic activities by attracting investment in enterprises, manufacturing, service provision and tourism. Kshs 23.1 million will be used to equip the youth with the required skills and acquisition and construction of culverts for the county to address drainage issues in the county.
Further, Kshs 10million has been allocated for the titling of Likii and other settlements while Kshs 24 million will go towards the development of valuation roll. The county revenues are majorly the equitable share at Kshs5.1 billion, own source revenue at Kshs1 billion and conditional grants at Kshs750 million. The county is well prepared to raise Kshs1.116 billion from infrastructure bond transaction bringing the total county revenue to Kshs8.1 billion.
Huge spenders are health at a total of Kshs2.1 billion, infrastructure at Kshs1.7 billion while the county assembly has been allocated Kshs536 million for the financial year. Public administration will spend Kshs700 million, while Finance and water departments get Kshs391 million and Kshs443 million respectively. Education, agriculture and Trade will get ksh463 million Kshs264 million and Kshs112 million respectively. The county entities share the balance.
