The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper print
operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The Standard Group is recognized as a
leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and international interest.
The health service docket received Sh194 million, the highest allocation as the county unveiled a Sh6 billion budget for the 2016-17 financial year. The budget budget was a reduction from Sh6.9 billion in 2015-2016.
The county government expects to get Sh5.4 billion from the national government and raise Sh200 million from local revenue.
The proposed budget has already been tabled at the county assembly and will, thereafter, be subjected to public participation. Some Sh4 billion is projected to cater for recurrent expenditure.
Leasing of medical equipment from the national government will cost Sh95.7 million, while construction works at the Siaya County Referral Hospital is set to cost Sh40 million.
An additional Sh35 million will go towards purchasing a CT scan machine for Siaya County Referral Hospital.
Finance, economic planning and vision 2030 got Sh153.5 million, the second highest allocation. Trade, Industry and Co-operative Development docket was allocated Sh120 million.
Education, youth affairs, sports, culture and social services got Sh118 million, including Sh20 million for establishing a revolving fund for youth, the disabled and women entrepreneurs.
Out of the Sh118 million, some Sh20 million will cater for food ration for pre-primary school children.
Water, Environment, Natural Resources and Tourism got the least share of the budget at Sh24 million. The county government plans to spend Sh15 million on acquiring a self-loading waste management tractor.
The county Treasury will spend Sh20 million on preparation of the county's spatial plan and an additional Sh6 million on conducting public land audit.
The county government has allocated Sh94 million for agriculture, livestock, irrigation and fisheries.
Some projects listed in the sector include the Sh10.5 million trade fair and exhibition, Sh5 million for establishment of support programmes for fish farmers and Sh30 million for buying certified assorted seeds and fertiliser. Each ward will receive Sh1 million.
Some Sh8.9 million will be used to improve dairy farming and an additional Sh23 million for tractor hire service subsidy.
County Assembly Budget and Appropriation Committee Chairman Jack Odinga said they would like to see how the county can improve in terms of revenue collection.
"The revenue projection in this county is still too little because of some laxity in the revenue department and we are therefore raising a red flag that they find a way of streamlining the revenue collection," he said.
However, a majority of residents attending the budget forum decried the slow pace at which the county was implementing development projects.
Fifty per cent of projects prioritised in 2015-2016 have not been implemented, they said.
join