The Bungoma County Assembly has approved a comprehensive budget for the financial year 2024-25, with Sh4.4 million allocated specifically for the health docket. This budget aims to cater to the healthcare needs of Bungoma’s 1.7 million residents.
On Thursday, the Bungoma County Assembly sanctioned the annual budget, totaling Sh15.2 billion. According to the approved Annual Appropriations Bill, Sh10.3 billion is set aside for recurrent expenditure, while Sh4.8 billion is allocated for development, representing 68% and 32% of the total budget, respectively.
The Budget Committee, chaired by Kimaeti MCA Jack Wambulwa, announced that the county will receive an equitable share of Sh11.2 billion from the national government, marking a Sh167 million increase from the previous year’s allocation. In addition, Bungoma will benefit from Sh487 million in conditional grants and Sh1.2 billion from development partners.
Key initiatives supported by these funds include the Health department, Urban Support Programme (Sh35 million), Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Project (Sh297 million), and the Finance of Locally Led Climate Action Programme, among others.
The county aims to generate Sh1 billion through appropriations in aid, despite an Sh88.4 million decrease from the previous year. Additionally, Bungoma has set an ambitious target of raising Sh1.1 billion in local revenue, a Sh325 million increase.
Notable allocations include:
- Finance and Economic Planning: Sh1.2 billion
- Education and Vocational Training: Sh1.6 billion
- Office of the Governor: Sh723 million
- Public Administration: Sh594 million
- County Assembly: Sh1.3 billion
The development efforts will focus heavily on agriculture, livestock, fisheries, and cooperative development, which will receive Sh677 million. The Department of Roads and Public Works will get Sh1.3 billion, with Sh1.2 billion dedicated to development projects. Water and natural resources projects will receive Sh680 million.
Amendments include reallocating Sh59 million from the Roads and Public Works department to ward-based projects and adding Sh25 million for garbage collection in the Department of Tourism and Environment. An additional Sh10 million will be directed to constructing a tea factory under the agriculture, livestock, fisheries, and cooperative development departments.
The budget, having undergone the entire approval process, will now be forwarded to the governor for assent before its official implementation at the start of the new financial year.