Bungoma County’s Strategic Budget Allocation for 2024-25: Focus on Health and Development

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The Bungoma government has allocated Sh4.4 billion for the health sector in the financial year 2024-25, according to the assembly committee on the budget. This budget is intended to serve a population of 1.7 million residents.
On Thursday, the Bungoma County Assembly approved the annual budget for 2024-25, which totals Sh15.2 billion for its operations starting July 1, 2024. Of this amount, Sh10.3 billion is earmarked for recurrent expenditures, while Sh4.8 billion is set aside for development projects. This allocation represents 68% for recurrent expenses and 32% for development.
The committee, chaired by Kimaeti MCA Jack Wambulwa, noted that the county will also receive an equitable share of Sh11.2 billion from the national government, which is an increase of Sh167 million from the current year’s allocation. Additionally, the county will obtain conditional grants totaling Sh487 million from the national government and an extra Sh1.2 billion from development partners for various initiatives.
These initiatives include funding for the Health Department, the Urban Support Programme (Sh35 million), the Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Project (Sh297 million), the Finance of Locally Led Climate Action Programme, Water (Sh11 million), a climate change grant (Sh153 million), and a KOICA grant (Sh500 million).
The county aims to raise Sh1 billion through appropriations in aid, reflecting a decrease of Sh88.4 million from the previous year. It also has an ambitious target of raising Sh1.1 billion in local revenue, an increase of Sh325 million.
Other significant allocations include Sh1.2 billion for the Department of Finance and Economic Planning, Sh1.6 billion for Education and Vocational Training, Sh723 million for the Office of the Governor, Sh594 million for Public Administration, and Sh1.3 billion for the County Assembly.
The committee stated that most development activities will be led by the departments of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Cooperative Development, which have a total development budget of Sh677 million. The Department of Roads and Public Works has an allocation of Sh1.3 billion, with Sh1.2 billion designated for development. The Department of Water and Natural Resources also received Sh680 million for development projects.
However, the committee reported a transfer of Sh59 million from the Roads and Public Works Department and an addition of Sh10 million to ward-based projects within that department. Furthermore, Sh25 million will be allocated for garbage collection in the Department of Tourism and Environment, and Sh10 million will be added for the construction of a tea factory in the Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Cooperative Development Department.
Having successfully completed the budgeting process, the budget will now be sent to the governor for approval before being published for implementation at the beginning of the new financial year.