Roads docket gets lion’s share of Sh6.8bn Trans Nzoia budget

The Transport docket in Trans Nzoia County government got the lion’s share of the Sh6.8 billion budget with Sh609 million for roads construction and maintenance. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • MCAs rejected proposal for construction of a secondary school and specialised technical institute.
  • The budget allocated Sh4.1 billion for recurrent expenditure and Sh2.7 billion for development.

Trans Nzoia County Assembly on Thursday approved Sh6.8 billion budget for the 2018/2019 Financial Year with Sh20 million awarded for construction of cafeteria and office units.

The county government had proposed Sh5 million and Sh45 million for the establishment of Trans Nzoia County Secondary School and a technical institute.

But ward representatives preferred instead to spend money on infrastructure development and purchase of motor vehicles.

"We dropped the construction of a secondary school and specialized technical school after residents rejected them during public participation forums on grounds that education is not fully devolved," said Mr David Kisaka, chairman of the Assembly's Budget Committee.

The budget allocated Sh30 million for construction of a modern administration block, Sh10 million for renovation and repair works and Sh20 million for purchase of motor vehicles.

The budget which was presented by the Finance minister, Mr Bonface Wanyonyi, allocated Sh4.1 billion for recurrent expenditure and Sh2.7 billion for development.

"Sh5.6 billion will be from the national government allocation while about Sh500 million will be raised locally in revenues. Sh700 million will be grants from development partners," said Mr. Kisaka.

Transport department got lion’s share of the budget with Sh609 million for roads construction and maintenance.

But the Health budget was slashed by Sh1 billion from last year’s Sh2 billion.

Lands, Housing and Physical Planning department received Sh322m while agriculture was allocated Sh302 million.

The department of Education and ICT will receive Sh259.7 million while Gender, Youth, Sports, Culture, Children, Social Services and Tourism docket was allocated Sh134.5 million.

Among other allocations were Sh88 million for the department of Trade, Commerce and Industry, Sh229 million for the department of Water and Natural Resources while Sh71 million will cater for County Assembly Services.

The Assembly’s Speaker Joshua Werunga said Governor Patrick Khaemba has 14 days to assent to the Appropriation Bill.