House approves Budget Estimates for FY2022/2023
The Budget Statement was presented to the County Assembly during a special sitting on 15th June 2022 pursuant to a gazette notice number 6810 of 14th June 2022. The Budget was read by the Chairperson Budget and Appropriations Committee Hon. Albert Kipkoech. The Budget was prepared after wide consultations with CECMs of all departments. The budget – making process adhered to Article 196 of the constitution where public participation is required.
Despite challenges of COVID19 Budget Estimates was uploaded on the website for the public and stakeholders to give feedback and submit written memoranda. The total revenue projection for FY 2022/23 from national exchequer was 7.87 billion whereas local Revenue donor funds, grants and other funding was projected at 6.43 billion. In expenditure, recurrent expenses was allocated 5.5 billion which makes up 70% of overall budget.
Development programs was allocated 2.38 billion which represents 30% of the total budget The revenue was distributed to all the departments where Health Services received the lion’s share of 3 billion which makes up 52 % of the total budget while ICT & E -government received the least share of 1.12%. For oversight and legislative roles the County Assembly was allocated 826.8 million for recurrent expenses and 5.1 million for development.
Public Service Management and administration was allocated 418.8 million for recurrent and 10.9 million for development. County Public Service Board was allocated 56.5 for recurrent expenses whereas the office of the Governor was allocated 124 million for recurrent expenditure. Finance and Economic Planning department was allocated 305 million for recurrent expenditure and 166.3 million for development, 20 million was availed in the department towards disaster/emergency funds kitty. 33.7 million for strategic intervention programme was also availed in the department.
Livestock and fisheries got 160.9 million and 504 million for recurrent and development expenditures respectively. Education and Child Welfare department was allocated 535.3 million for recurrent and 213.8 million for development expenditure. The department of roads and public works got 9.3 million for recurrent expenditure and 510.8 million for development. The department of Water and Sanitation got 155.4 million and 299.8 million for both recurrent and development respectively. Lands and Housing department was allocated 90.6 million for recurrent and 107.5 million for development which includes 16 million and 10 million for Litein and Kericho municipal boards respectively.
The Budget and Appropriations committee thanked the office of the Speaker and the Clerk for ensuring that committee’s work ran smoothly. They however noted that despite the challenges county faces in revenue collection, revenue targets can be attained because the finance department has invested heavily on automation of revenue in previous years.