Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa has assented to the Sh17.6 billion County Budget Appropriation Bill, becoming one of the first counties to pass the 2023/2024 budget.
Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) passed the budget, which allocated the health sector Sh4.64 billion (26.6%).
The Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Co-operatives ministries were allocated Sh1.408 billion.
Sh11.4 billion (64.4%) has been allocated to recurrent expenditure, while Sh6.3 billion (35.53%) has been earmarked for development.
The county boss approved the bill in the presence of his deputy, Ayub Savula, Speaker James Namatsi, Finance CECM Livingstone Imbayi, and County Attorney Vivian Mmbaka.
“Our total budget is Sh17.6 billion, which will largely be financed by a Sh12 billion equitable share, our own Sh2.2 billion source revenue, Sh500 million in conditional grants, and others, and this will help my administration achieve what I pledged to the residents,” Barasa said.
The county boss said his administration is keen on collecting Sh2.2 billion as the county’s source of revenue in the 2023/2024 financial year budget, insisting that the county can hit and even surpass the set revenue targets of Sh2.2 billion and collect Sh5 billion.
“We have brought on board a new automation system. We are trying to ensure we seal all revenue leakages and loopholes, and we will focus more on proper tax administration,” he said.
Barasa boasted that the budget has surpassed the required 30 percent threshold for development, which is 36 percent.
“In total, we have allocated around Sh11.7 billion to the recurrent budget. On development, which should have a minimum of 30 percent, we have given it Sh6.3 billion,” he said.
Sam Oduor is the editor-in-chief at the Western Kenya Times who leverages the power of the Internet in telling stories that shape opinions.
