By Joseph   Masha   

Kilifi County Government has proposed a budget of Sh5.6 billion for the 2013/2014 financial year.

The County expects to raise Sh1.1billion through local revenue collection with the other fraction coming from the central government.

But local residents are not happy with some proposals and are demanding a revision of the estimates.

On Thursday, there was uproar after they discovered that very little money had been proposed to cater for the promotion of early childhood education program in the county.

Residents who had attended a consultative meeting at Kilifi County hall to give their input on the estimate summary budget said early childhood education should be given priority as it forms the foundation of good education.

Former education officer Mr Edward Kahindi said it was mockery for the Kilifi County Government to propose a budget of Sh20 million to go to early child hood promotion programs.

According to the proposed budget, the county government has proposed to buy 4 vehicles for the early childhood promotion programs at a cost of Sh5 million each.

However, residents argued buying of vehicles could not address the many problem facing early childhood education programs and recommended that Sh100 million of the county budget of Sh5.6 billion for this financial year be ploughed into early childhood programmes.

Dilapidated condition

Mr Kahindi said most of the classrooms used for the programme were in dilapidated conditions and needed to be rebuilt a fresh.

“Buildings being used for the programme in Kilifi are in dilapidated condition and the county government ought to have budgeted enough funds to refurbish them,” said Mr Kahindi.

Kilifi County Interim Secretary Mr Charles Kisombe who presented the proposed budget before the residents in Kilifi yesterday welcomed the proposal made during the forum. Kilifi Governor Mr Amason Kingi (pictured) was not present.

Mr Kisombe said the essence of tabling the proposed budget for the people was to get views on which areas to be given more consideration and termed the suggestions as healthy.

“The essence of tabling the proposed budget for the county before the area people was to get healthy suggestions on areas where some corrections could be made and your suggestions are very important,” said Mr Kisombe.

He said the recommendations of the people would be put into consideration for necessary correction.

He further said the proposed budget for the county is Sh5.6 billion with Sh4.5 billion coming from the central government.

He added that the balance of Sh1.1 billion would be raised through revenue collection and urged people in the business sector to honour payments of their different taxes.

“Apart from the funds we will get from the central government the county has proposed to raise Sh1.1 billion from local revenue collection,” said Mr Kisombe.

Chairman of Jua kali association in Kilifi Mr Samson Rimba suggested that the county government should allocate money to revive the collapsed Mariakani Milk plant.