Sh5.6bn budget gets reps’ nod

Members of the Bomet County Assembly have approved a Sh5.6 billion budget for the 2016/2017 financial year

The approval was made on Thursday during a special sitting chaired by Assembly Speaker Geoffrey Kipngetich Korir.

The MCAs approved the allocation of Sh519,254,421 for the assembly’s recurrent expenditure, and Sh116,408,716 for development expenditure.

The Speaker said the recurrent expenditure for the assembly was in line with the Commission on Revenue Allocation ceiling and the CRA Bill passed by the Senate.

The assembly gave the nod to Sh325,575,210 for the executive’s recurrent expenditure, comprising Sh164,007,525 for personal emoluments and Sh161,567,685 for operations and maintenance.

For the first time since devolution started, the Public Service Board was allocated its own budget of Sh47,520,000 for its operations.

The assembly’s Budget and Appropriation Committee chairman, Mr Benard Ngeno, said over the years, the board has been depending on the executive for its operations.

“With this allocation, we expect the board to operate independently and discharge its duties without fear or favour,” he said.
In the estimates, medical services received the lion’s share of the funds.

The docket was allocated Sh991,434,157.
Social services and roads were allocated Sh574,683,390 and Sh565,644,828 respectively.

Education and vocational training were allocated Sh435,383,978; administration Sh431,607,000; agri-business, cooperative and marketing Sh389,768,256; water services Sh376,971,410; while finance will consume Sh339,784,459.

FINANCE STADIUM

Lands, public health and environment were allocated Sh327,273,636; ICT, training and industry Sh128,280,920; and economic planning and development Sh75,402,295.

Mr Ngeno, who is also the Kapletundo Ward Rep, said the assembly, however, refused to approve a proposal by the executive for Sh50 million for the work on the stadium.

Mr Ngeno said the amount had, instead, been reallocated for value addition for milk and tomatoes in Siongiroi, Chepalungu Sub- County; and Kapletundo, Sotik Sub-County

Mr Ngenoh said the assembly saw no need of the executive continuing to finance the stadium, arguing that it was already part of the land for Moi University and that it had become a cash cow for the executive.

He said the House also refused to approve the more than Sh200 million proposed by the executive for public participation by the various ministries.