The health sector in Murang’a County is set to benefit hugely in the next fiscal year budget, scooping Sh 3.65billion, which translates to 35.7 percent of the county revenue.
According to budget estimates for the year 2023/2024 seen by KNA, the total county budget for the year is set at Sh 10.23 billion. The recurrent expenditure has been allocated Sh 7.15 billion while the remaining Sh3.07 billion will fund development projects.
The health department has received the lion’s share as a sizable amount is going towards the development of seven hospitals in the county including constructions of wards at Murang’a level 5-referral hospital to the tune of Sh 95 million.
Other allocations in the sector include construction of Nyakianga hospital (65 million), Maragua hospital (Sh36 million), Kandara hospital (Sh 20 million), and constructions of Kenol hospital (Sh.50 m), renovation of Muriranja (Sh15 million) and Ithanga (Sh10 million).
The department of agriculture, livestock and fisheries was allocated Sh 904 million, which translates to 8.8 percent of the total county budget of which Sh250 million will go towards providing agricultural subsidies for mango and dairy farmers while veterinary services like vaccination programmes will receive Sh20 million.
In efforts to provide safe and clean drinking water for local residents mostly residing in arid and semi arid parts of the county, the department of Water was allocated Sh137 million where, construction of new boreholes has been allocated Sh25 million, rehabilitation of boreholes Sh10 million and purchase of Water tanks Sh20million.
The roads and infrastructure department also received a sizable allocation of Sh 667 million, which translates to 6.6 percent of the total budget.
Some Sh170 million has been allocated to fund Markets and urban development programme dubbed ‘smart cities’. The development is ongoing, as six cities have been earmarked to benefit from the programme.
The county government allocated the Education department Sh820 millions of which
Sh130 million has been allocated to Early childhood development and education (ECDE) to especially renovate and rehabilitate ECDE centres to improve the quality of education. Already the process has started in this current financial year.
Infrastructure development of Youth, polytechnic and vocational training has been allocated Sh 5 million and Mentorship and training Sh10 million.
In a bid to conserve the environment, the Department of environment and natural resources was allocated Sh102 million of which Sh5 million will go towards purchasing of tree seeds and seedlings and purchase of specialised material like energy saving jikos Sh3.2 million.
Waste management was allocated Sh49 million of which Sh40 million will be used to purchase waste collection vehicles.
Other departments that received a sizable allocation include Public service administration (Sh1 billion), Trade Sh685 million (6.7 percent), Sports, youth and gender Sh238 million (2.3 percent), The county Assembly got Sh850 million (8.3 percent), County Public service board Sh 43 million (0.4 percent) and Finance and ICT Sh 450 million (4.4 percent).
The money allocated for administration and planning support was Sh 6 million, which will go towards construction of fire station and sub county offices at Sh 2 million and Sh4 million respectively.
In addition, the county has allocated Sh50 million to go towards Automation of services in the county in an effort to boost collection of local revenue.
The county targets to collect Sh 1.4billion through local revenue and Sh7.465 billion through equitable share disbursed from the national treasury. The budget is expected to be tabled before the floor of the assembly before closure of this week.
