Sh170m to build assembly and governor’s house

Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya at a past press conference. Kakamega County Assembly approved the 2016/2017 budget without amendments but ward representatives asked the Executive to ensure it was implemented as passed. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Infrastructure development will consume Sh1.9 billion, health Sh1.2 billion and agriculture Sh575.9 million. Education and ICT got Sh646 million, Trade Sh423 million and the County Assembly Sh889 million.
  • Mr Lukulu, however, said ministries had not provided details of the development expenditure for projects in the budget.

The county assembly on Thursday approved Sh70 million for construction of a governor’s residence in Likuyani Sub-County and another Sh100 million to build a modern assembly chamber.

These were among the highlights of Sh13.2 billion budget that gave Health, Infrastructure and Agriculture departments the three-highest allocations.

Infrastructure development will consume Sh1.9 billion, health Sh1.2 billion and agriculture Sh575.9 million. Education and ICT got Sh646 million, Trade Sh423 million and the County Assembly Sh889 million.

The budget, presented by Budget and Appropriations Committee Chairman Henry Lukulu, indicates that the county government was still experiencing problems in meeting its revenue collection targets from local sources.

The county is targeting to collect Sh1 billion compared to Sh440 million in 2015/2016.

The Assembly approved the budget without amendments but ward representatives asked the Executive to ensure it was implemented as passed.

Mr Lukulu, however, said ministries had not provided details of the development expenditure for projects in the budget.

“A review of the national government budget for 2016/2017 reveals that all the projects budgeted for were clearly captured,” said Mr Lukulu.

“If the government could provide details of the projects despite the huge coverage, why is Kakamega County finding it difficult to provide similar details?”

The Assembly heard that 57 out of the 610 heifers bought for farmers under the One Cow programme had died from East Coast Fever (ECF), and the Chief Officer had requested that funds be allocated to tackle the outbreak of the disease in the region.