MCAs have passed the 2023/2024 Financial Year budget paving way for the facilitation of services in the county.
Tabling the budget report the Chairperson of the Budget and Appropriation Committee Hon. Geoffrey Gakuru of Kiine ward said the committee held consultative forums with all departmental committees and also gave consideration to the citizen views on the budget as presented to the committee during public participation forums.
In his remarks to the motion Hon. Gakuru noted that the budget was affordable, equitable, transparent and comprehensive.
Speaking in favour of the report Hon. Lucy Njeri who also serves as the vice- chairperson of the Budget and Appropriation Committee noted that the budget was gender friendly noting that programs meant to improve the welfare of women and youth received a reasonable share of the budget with the Wezesha program being allocated Kshs 29 Million.
The approved Kshs 7,240,547,406 budget which takes effect on 1st of July 2023 will be funded using funds from the exchequer, own source revenue, conditional grants and roll over funds from the 2022/2023 Financial Year. The department of Medical Services, Public Health and Sanitation received the lion’s share of the budget with an allocation of Kshs 2,116,489,802 while Kshs 275 million was allocated towards the development of the Sagana Industrial Park which is expected to host an Export Processing Zone and a County Agro-industrial Park. The department of Transport, Roads and Public works received Kshs 348,422,832 as development expenditure.
While approving budget report the MCAs called for full implementation of the budget calling on the Committee on Implementation to be vigilant to ensure full absorption of funds allocated to various projects in the county. The MCAs further reiterated their commitment to perform their oversight role so as to protect the welfare of the people of Kirinyaga.
In the special sittings held today and presided over by Speaker Hon.Muteti Murimi, the MCAs also passed and adopted the Appropriation Bill, 2023.