Focus on Wanjiku as "cosmetic projects" dropped in Embu budget

The County Assembly of Embu has passed a KSh 6.8 Billion budget to finance the development projects and operation of the County Government in the 2021/2022 Financial Year.

Budget and Appropriations Committee Chairman Harrison Mwaluko moved the Motion to debate the Embu County Appropriation Bill of 2021 during a plenary sitting emphasised that the Assembly had carefully scrutinised pending bills and only set aside funds for genuine debts.

Mwaluko who is the MCA for Mwea Ward also pointed out that the healthcare sector had been awarded the lion’s share of the budget with KSh 1.7 Billion for the entire docket and KSh 123 million for the Embu Level Five Hospital and KSh 162 million for completion and equipping of dispensaries. KSh 452 million has been set aside for recruitment of Early Childhood Development (ECD) teachers.

Tarmacking and maintenance of county roads will take KSh 1.3 Billion under the portfolio for Infrastructure, Public Works and Energy, while The Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives docket has been allocated KSh 421 Million for field services. KSh 362 Million will go to completion of a honey processing plant and the Kithimu grain store.

Market sheds

Under the Education, Science and Technology department, KSh 117 Million will be disbursed to needy students as bursaries and another KSh 74 Million spent on development of infrastructure and civil works in ECD centres and youth polytechnics. Construction of market sheds, stalls and installation of floodlights plus the empowerment of Boda Boda groups will cost KSh 64 Million.

Deputy Speaker Steve Simba (Runyenjes Central) said only projects that had a direct impact on residents had been funded, stating that unnecessary constructions and cosmetic projects that only benefitted contractors had been put on hold in favour of priority areas like roads, education, agriculture and health.

In the budget, the Ward Reps allocated KSh 40 Million for locally-led climate change action program. Part of this initiative is to supply households with Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders to draw them away from the use of firewood and consequently conserving the environment.

The MCAs called for speedy implementation of the budget, urging Governor Martin Wambora and his administration to be alive to the fact that this was the year that they would redeem or condemn themselves based on the performance of the County Government at the grassroots.

The leaders however challenged the Embu County Revenue Authority to improve on collection of local revenue to ensure that the budget is fully financed and to avoid accruing more pending bills.

BY MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT