Day: June 25, 2024

The County Assembly of Murang’a has passed a budget of Sh10.46 billion for the 2024-2025 financial year.

The amount was an increase compared to the estimates for the current financial year, which was Sh10.39 billion.

In a report on the county estimates of revenue and expenditure for the next financial year, Sh3.15 billion was factored for development and another Sh7.29 billion for recurrent expenditure.

According to the estimates presented by the Chairperson of the Assembly’s Committee for Budget and Appropriation, Charles Machigo, the department of infrastructure got the lion’s share after it was allocated Sh1 billion to implement capital projects.

Of the amount, Sh735 million will be used for community projects, including the construction and renovation of dispensaries, the rehabilitation of feeder roads, and the building and renovation of ECDE centres. Sh200 million was allocated for the Kang’ata Care programme, which targets to provide universal health care for the elderly and vulnerable.

Currently,
more than 40, 000 households are included in the programme that was established in early 2023.

Machigo said the health programme has been applauded by the locals due to its social impact on their lives.

He further said the ECDE feeding programme commonly known as the Uji programme, was allocated Sh115 million.

Machigo stated that the county government is committed to improving the standards of ECDE by renovating the centres and ensuring the learners get meals.

He noted that to boost manufacturing in the county, Sh200 million has been allocated for the establishment of an aggregated industrial park on the land the county government got from Delmonte Company.

The chairperson further stated that the county will get an increased equitable share from Sh7.58 billion to Sh7.75 billion as a result of increased county allocations under the Division of Revenue Act.

‘Own source of revenue estimates are set at Sh1.25 billion following the achievement of Sh1 billion the county collected in the last 11 months of the
current financial year,’ added the Budget Committee chairperson.

He further explained that the newly created department of Devolution and External linkages was allocated Sh46 million in the recurrent expenditure.

‘This amount includes a Sh37.5 million grant on the Kenya Devolution Support Programme from the World Bank,’ remarked Machigo.

The chairperson noted a budget deficit amounting to Sh143.6 million was removed, and the county assembly ceiling was adjusted to Sh841.9 million based on the county allocation of Revenue Bill and CRA parameters.

‘The county treasury is expected to submit an itemised budget to the Controller of the Budget to indicate the geographical location for the development projects. A copy should also be submitted to the County Assembly,’ said Machigo.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The County Government of Nyeri has tabled a Sh8.7 billion budget comprising of Sh5.8 billion allocations for recurrent expenditures while dedicating Sh2.8 billion to fund development in the county.

This year’s budget is a Sh700 million increase from last year’s estimates, when the county executive tabled a Sh8 million budget. The amount set aside for development expenditure represents 33.04 per cent of the total budget, while recurrent expenditure accounts for 66.95 per cent.

Nyeri County is banking on a Sh6.5 billion equitable share from the exchequer, Sh1.3 billion in conditional grants, and Sh800 million in its own source of revenue to fund the budget.

According to the estimates presented by Nyeri County Committee Executive Member in Charge of Finance and Economic Planning, Robert Thuo, the county Department of Health will receive the lion’s share of the 2024-2025 budget. Should the County Assembly approve the estimates, the Health Department will receive Sh3 billion.

Out of this, some Sh200 million wi
ll go towards supplementing the purchase of drugs and non-pharmaceuticals for the county’s health facilities. The CEC has also allocated some Sh53 million for various renovations, infrastructural works, and the purchase of medical equipment for rural health facilities across the county. This is in addition to setting aside Sh40 million, which will be used to kick start the Wamagana Level IV Hospital in Tetu Sub-County.

‘Notably, this is an area that has long been without such a facility,’ said Thuo.

Other big winners include the County Assembly, with a Sh955.8 million allocation, and the Department of Transport, Public Works, and Infrastructure, for which Thuo is proposing a Sh744.2 million allocation in this year’s budget.

For the transport docket, the Finance CEC says Sh367.13 million will be dedicated to the improvement of the road network across the county, and another Sh100 million will be spent on maintaining existing streetlights as well as the installation of new streetlights and high-mast floodlig
hts.

Additionally, Thuo also proposed that the county set aside Sh120 million, which will go towards settling streetlight electricity bills; similarly, the CEC is proposing a shift to solar power as a cost-cutting measure for the county.

‘As you will notice, a significant allocation of the amount allocated to the Energy Directorate has been set aside for the settlement of electricity bills. Even as we seek to turn the county into a 24-hour economy, the rising and recurring cost of streetlight bills is becoming increasingly unsustainable. To address this issue, we must explore alternative methods, such as the adoption of energy-efficient LED lights and the integration of solar-powered streetlights,’ cautioned Thuo.

Other departments with considerable allocations include Education, Training, and Devolution at Sh 638 million, while Finance, Economic Planning, and ICT were apportioned Sh 545.7 million. Thuo also allocated the county department for Agriculture, Livestock, and Aquaculture Sh508.3 million. Out of
this, Sh113.3 million will be channelled to supporting climate action projects, which will be implemented through the Nyeri County Climate Change Fund.

Unlike last year, when the executive refrained from increasing levies and fees, the Finance CEC hinted at the possibility of introducing new fees as a revenue-raising measure.

Some of the areas that will be hit by the proposals include traders at the Muthoni Kirima bus terminus, where Thuo is proposing the introduction of market-day fees and charges for eateries at the bus terminus. The county is also planning to introduce new charges for filming documentaries and taking of photographs at tourism sites within the town.

‘It is important to note that we have maintained our own source revenue target of Sh800 million. To achieve this target, I have submitted the Legislative Proposal on Revenue Raising Measures, 2024, which clearly does not intend to increase the fees and charges, but is focused on including some fees that were not previously captured in the Rev
enue Administration Act 2014,’ said Thuo.

Other charges that Thuo is proposing be increased include the cost of impounding motor vehicles in rural areas from Sh500 to Sh1,000 per day to encourage compliance. The county executive is also proposing an upward adjustment in school fees for nursery schools in Karatina, Nyakinyua, and King’ong’o areas from Sh900 to Sh1,000 to cater for the rise in commodity prices and sustain the school feeding programme.

Thuo is also proposing a Sh4,000 increase in the penalty for motorbikes causing a nuisance due to excessive noise from Sh1,000 to Sh5,000.

‘I understand that the proposed increases in various charges may raise concerns among our citizens. However, these adjustments are necessary to ensure that the county government may continue to provide high-quality services and maintain our infrastructure effectively. Rising costs, inflation, and the need for enhanced compliance and environmental management have necessitated these changes,’ stated Thuo.

Source: Kenya News
Agency

A few years ago, as the millennials and the predecessor generations were growing up, a dog was just a domestic animal, usually an irritant fed on left-overs, if any, or left to fend for itself across villages, transcending hills and valleys.

Every dog was either Simba, Poppy, Blackie, or a few other odd names. Most of them had no fixed abode, given that most homesteads did not have any fences. A dog was likely to be found in any homestead that had a celebration, which meant food was plentiful.

Fast forward to today, when dogs are a highly treasured pet in the family and will not be left to wander off.

The transition has been so major that companies have been set up with the sole purpose of catering to the needs of these canines.

Investments in the canine industry run into millions of shillings, and a good number of Kenyans earn their daily bread by either breeding, training, or producing food and accessories for the canines.

Today, dogs are highly valued, well trained, and come at a princely sum.

Dogs a
re no longer just for security but are also valued for their companionship and used in forensic investigations to sniff out illegal substances.

They come in all sizes and shapes, from the petit Chihuahuas to the enormous bull dogs who grow to weights heavier than your average goat or sheep.

In some homesteads, dogs have their own special place on the couch. In some homes, the furry companions take holiday trips with their masters or are left in the hands of caretakers who are paid handsomely to feed as well as groom them.

In exposing the high stakes in the sector, organisers have in the recent past organized dog shows as a way of highlighting the options available for potential dog owners.

Over the weekend, dog enthusiasts showcased different breeds of dogs and their capabilities and temperaments, as well as companies selling dog food and ornamental products for dogs.

Attendees at the event, held at the Nakuru Athletics Club, were wowed by the capabilities of different types of dog breeds and their capab
ilities.

Also on display were the trainings conducted for the dogs, depending on what the dogs were being prepared for.

Sussy, a pure black German Shepherd, stands alert with her ears straight up, as if trying to pick up something from the surroundings. Her handler gives a quiet signal. She tenses, ready to act, but quickly lies down as if in surrender. She is well-trained and responds to instruction quickly, only when prompted by her handler.

Her major responsibility is to defend her handler, and she can easily subdue an intruder in minutes.

She is alert at all times and is uncomfortable with strangers around her. She will not, however, attack, unless prompted by her handler.

Tokyo, on the other hand, is a playful Japanese Spitz, always hanging around her handler. She is a family pet and comfortably fits into a family setup since she is playful and has a good temperament.

According to her handler, Sifa Nderitu, Tokyo loves playing and dancing. She put up a rather impressive performance and won herself
three awards in different categories.

The Manager of Mudason Dog Center in Gilgil, Bethwel Rotich, prides himself on his ability to train dogs, saying that rarely has he come across a dog that cannot be trained.

He says that by the end of one week, he can tell whether a dog is a slow learner or can grasp instructions quickly.

Rotich prefers to train dogs away from their familiar surroundings, saying such dogs are easier to train.

He prides himself on his ability to identify a good dog after a short interaction.

The trainer says that demand for good and well-trained dogs is on the rise, saying that the market is largely untapped.

Rotich, however, says it’s a sector that needs a lot of patience because of the challenges that one may face. One of the most devastating challenges is when a well-trained dog dies after investing so much in it.

However, there are countless moments of satisfaction, especially when a client is pleased with the result of their training.

Rotich says training services range from S
h20,000 to Sh30,000, depending on the type of training that a client wants. Some of the popular trainings include protection, obedience, behavior, and tracking.

The centre also offers daycare services for canines, starting at as low as Sh500 and going up to Sh15,000 depending on the length of stay and services that will be offered.

Rotich says the centre has various types of dogs, including German Shepherds, Rottweilers, and Boerboel, among others.

The centre bagged several awards, including the best protection dog and the best-represented dog kennel.

Source: Kenya News Agency