Counties priorities health, education and ward developments in multibillion budget estimates

Counties have unveiled multi-billion budget estimates with health, education and ward developments set to define Counties priorities.

Nakuru County unveiled a Sh21.49 billion budget for the 2026/27 financial year, with the largest share of resources directed to health, education, agriculture and ward-based projects.

The spending plan projects total revenue of Sh21.49 billion, comprising Sh14.63 billion from the equitable share, Sh2.4 billion from local revenue collections, Sh2.67 billion from the Facility Improvement Fund (FIF) and Sh1.8 billion from conditional grants.

Of the total budget, Sh15.06 billion has been allocated to recurrent expenditure, while Sh6.43 billion will finance development projects across the county.

Healthcare remains the county’s biggest investment area, accounting for 37 per cent of the overall budget. Key allocations include Sh463 million for medical drugs, Sh402 million for non-pharmaceutical supplies and Sh300 million for staff medical insurance.

The county has also set aside Sh63 million to transition medical workers employed on contract between 2020 and 2022 to permanent and pensionable terms. Additional investments include Sh477 million for equipment and infrastructure upgrades in Level IV and V hospitals and Sh55 million for improvements in Level II and III health facilities.

Further funding targets the completion of Kuresoi North and Rongai Level IV hospitals, with Sh130 million allocated for construction works and Sh83 million earmarked for the procurement of medical and dental equipment for the two facilities.

In the education sector, Sh198 million has been allocated for the ECDE school feeding programme, while Sh185 million will support bursaries for needy learners across the county’s 55 wards.

Vocational training centres will receive Sh155 million in capitation grants aimed at lowering training costs. Another Sh60 million has been allocated for ECDE learners’ uniforms, while Sh20 million each will fund scholarships and the provision of educational and library materials in ECDE centres.

Grassroots development remains a key focus, with Sh1.7 billion earmarked for ward-based projects identified and prioritised by residents in all the county’s 55 wards.

To strengthen local enterprises and expand access to affordable credit, the county has allocated Sh50 million to the Enterprise Fund and Cooperative Fund, with each receiving Sh25 million.

Agriculture, one of Nakuru’s leading economic pillars, has also received significant support. The budget provides Sh40 million each for avocado and pyrethrum seedlings, Sh45 million for maize seeds for vulnerable farmers and Sh50 million for the distribution of improved kienyeji chicks. An additional Sh7.5 million has been allocated to the subsidised artificial insemination programme.

Infrastructure development will also benefit from the budget, with Sh135 million allocated for street lighting electricity bills, Sh31 million for maintenance of rural and urban roads under the Imarisha Barabara Programme and Sh46 million for the installation and maintenance of solar streetlights.

Gilgil Town will receive Sh17 million for street lighting and construction of storm-water drainage systems, while Sh10 million has been set aside for road and drainage maintenance within Nakuru City.

The county has allocated Sh53 million for sports activities and talent development programmes, Sh32 million for the Governor’s Cup tournament and Sh20 million for the rehabilitation of Molo Stadium.

Other allocations include Sh584 million for settlement of eligible pending bills, Sh70 million for the Emergency Fund and Sh115 million for payment of casual workers engaged in cleaning urban centres and markets.

On climate action and environmental conservation, the county has set aside Sh112 million as its counterpart contribution to the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLoCCA) programme, while Sh11.5 million will be used to acquire equipment aimed at improving solid waste management.

Baringo County on its part projects a total resource envelope of Sh9, 451,729,867 for the FY 2026/2027, compared to the FY 2025/2026 printed estimates of Sh9, 542,026,108, reflecting a marginal decline of approximately 0.95 percent. The reduction is largely attributed to the exclusion of prior year balance brought forward amounting to Sh1,340,686,287 captured in FY 2025/2026, partially offset by growth in own source revenue and conditional grants. The largest share of county revenue continues to be derived from the Equitable Share from the National Government, projected at Sh7, 170,166,223, representing approximately 75.9 percent of the total county revenue.

Baringo’s own Source Revenue (OSR) is projected at Sh421, 896,407 in FY 2026/2027, up from Ksh. 331,939,770 in FY 2025/2026.

Of the county’s total budget amount, Sh6, 382,536,587.30 has been allocated to recurrent expenditure while Sh3, 069,193,279.91 is earmarked for development expenditure.

Personnel costs amount to Sh4, 202,646,296, while operations and maintenance are allocated Sh2, 136,990,291. Major recurrent allocations have been directed towards critical service sectors including Public Service Administration, ICT and E-Government at Sh4, 076,387,536, County Assembly at Sh842, 484,225, and Health Services at Sh743, 764,089.

Development expenditure has been prioritized towards infrastructure expansion, water access, agriculture, climate resilience, urban development, and social services. Key departments with substantial development allocations include Water and Irrigation with Sh528,400,000, Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Management with Sh482,564,890, County Executive Devolution and Special Programmes with Sh352,100,000, Health Services with Sh341,870,863.50, and Environment, Wildlife Management, Natural Resources and Mining with ShS268,783,301.78.

Kericho County Government’s budget amounts to Sh9.99 billion, placing strong emphasis on health, roads, water and agriculture to drive service delivery and economic transformation.

The development budget stands at Sh3.11 billion, representing 31.13 per cent of the total, and will fund key capital projects in line with the County Integrated Development Plan.

Health services take the lion’s share with Sh3.60 billion (35.84 per cent), targeting universal health coverage, facility upgrades, equipment and drug supplies. Internal reallocations have been made to bolster maintenance and procurement of essential medicines.

Roads and transport infrastructure receive Sh934.3 million in sectoral allocation, with a major Sh701.5 million specifically earmarked for upgrades to improve connectivity across the county.

Water supply and sanitation projects feature prominently, alongside agricultural value chain initiatives aimed at enhancing productivity and food security. Climate adaptation, environmental conservation, municipal infrastructure, education facilities and digital governance also rank high on the priority list.

The budget is financed mainly through the equitable share of Sh7.27 billion (72.38 per cent), supplemented by own source revenue of Sh626.95 million, the Facility Improvement Fund at Sh754.25 million, conditional grants and donor support of about Sh1.07 billion.

Recurrent expenditure is set at Sh6.87 billion (68.87 per cent), covering personnel emoluments of Sh4.35 billion and operations and maintenance amounting to Sh2.52 billion. The county has affected reallocations in health, agriculture, water and roads departments to address critical funding gaps.

The budget exceeds the statutory 30 per cent development spending threshold and is anchored on strategic outcomes including accelerated infrastructure development, economic growth, climate resilience and improved frontline services.

Uasin Gishu County has unveiled Sh11.54 billion. Sh94 million for the construction of two mansions, one for the Governor and another one for the Deputy Governor.

The County’s 2026-2027 budget estimates indicate that the Governor’s official residence will cost Sh64.4 million while that of the Deputy Governor gobble up Sh30 million in the coming financial year.

According to the estimates, the two projects are listed as Uasin Gishu County flagship projects.

County Executive for Roads Abraham Serem said infrastructural projects will cost more compared to the ending financial year because of high fuel prices.

“Fuel prices have gone up and we have sought increased allocation to the department so that we don’t scale down on the number of projects to be undertaken. Road works are capital intensive and we need to ensure that flagship projects are done,” the executive said.

Additional Reporting by Nikko Tanui, Stephen Rutto