Roads and stadiums upgrade, education dominate Nairobi county budget
The Nairobi County Government has read its budget estimates for the Financial Year 2023/24.
The Sh42.3 billion budget, a Sh3 billion increase from last year, is the highest to ever been tabled in the country.
It is also the first budget under Governor Johnson Sakaja and was read by Finance County Executive Committee member, Mr Charles Kerich.
In his remarks, Mr Kerich said the county’s strategies will involve putting more focus on sectors envisaged to have the largest impact on the livelihood of Nairobi residents which will also be in line with Governor Sakaja’s manifesto of making Nairobi a city of order and dignity to all.
The CEC said the budget will focus on enhancing quality and affordable healthcare, which includes promoting access to quality and affordable healthcare through stocking, equipping, construction, and rehabilitation of health facilities.
In health sector, Sh400 million has been allocated for equipping and stoking of sufficient drugs and non-pharmaceuticals to the County Health Facilities, and Sh1.1 billion for construction, equipping and rehabilitation of Health Facilities.
On School Feeding Program, the CEC has allocated Sh1.2 billion in recurrent budget for public primary schools.
Also, the county has allocated Sh500 million in development for construction of kitchens and serving sheds.
“This program will improve the nutritional status of the learners and also encourage students to attend school leading to an increase in enrollment, performance and transition to higher levels of education. The County has targeted to feed about 250,000 children,” Mr Kerich said.
However, the budget estimates tabled by the Assemby Committee on Finance, the feeding project has been slashed to Sh1.08 billion.
On transport, the county has allocated Sh.2.6 billion towards facilitation of implementation of development projects in the sector.
“Completion of ongoing road works will be targeted as a key priority, together with rehabilitation of already completed works,” Mr Kerich said in his brief statement on Thursday ahead of D-Day.
Decentralisation of Boroughs has been allocated Sh400 million for construction of Boroughs offices, subcounty and ward offices.
Mr Kerich has also asked the Assembly to approve Sh120 million for construction of fire stations in Kangemi and Gikomba.
On Education, the county has allocated Sh857 million for provision of bursaries to the needy students, out of which Sh7 million will be allocated to every ward and the balance will be available to sponsor all continuing students under the Executive Scholarship Programme.
Also, Sh554 million have been allocated for the construction and rehabilitation of stadiums.
A total of Sh730 has been allocated for construction of markets.
Mr Kerich said that on the management of solid waste and sewerage, the county has procured 27 tippers, 10 skip loaders, 24 refuse compactors, 3 bulldozers, and 4 backhoes trucks, and increased human capital by employing 3,000 support staff to undertake cleaning in the city.
The County Government will also state the allocation towards affordable housing projects for the residents, where two projects are ongoing under phase 1 (Pangani 1,562 units and Jeevanjee 1,830 units) while another seven projects are under procurement for phase 2 and are expected to deliver 14,000 units.
Phase 2 will include Woodley (1,700 units), Kariobangi North (1,000 units), Bahati (3,000 units), Ziwani (2,500 units), Maringo (2,000 units) and Jericho (4,000 units), while other projects will be identified once phase 2 commences.
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