Nairobi County will have a Sh31.5 billion budget-- Kidero

Nairobi governor Evans Kidero has presented his ambitious Sh31.5 billion county budget for the next financial year, with a warning to city politicians not to interfere with his operations at City Hall.

Governor Kidero told city residents to brace for a revision of rates, fees and charges with a justification that the upward increase will be used to reflect the present social-economic realities. 

The 2013-14 budget proposed yesterday is double the current one of Sh15 billion.
Addressing the first stakeholders conference at Charter Hall yesterday, which is in line with the Public Finance Management Act 2012 ahead of the budget reading in June, Kidero also outlined his new look cabinet structure, trimming it from the current 17 departments to 11 portfolios. 


The conference was to give city residents and stakeholders an opportunity to interrogate his budget proposals and give their input before the final budget is approved next June.


“Most cities in the world raise the bulk of their revenue from levying land rates. On several occasions, when new valuation rolls have been prepared, they have never seen the light of the day because of resistance and interference from politicians and property owners, the former purporting to speak for and protect their people,” Governor Kidero said, amid applause from the packed hall.


The budget proposal figures presented yesterday by Chief Finance Officer Jimmy Kiamba have seen Kidero’s administration leaning towards capital projects.

Kidero said that out of the budgeted Sh31.5 billion, Sh14.6 billion will be raised from internal sources within the County while Sh16.9 will be catered fro by transfers from the National Treasury.

The internal sources the Governor outlined included rates, single business permits, billboards and outdoor advertising and parking.

He however said these sources have proved inadequate, unreliable and with an expanded mandate, he will was in the process of engaging an expert who will come up with innovative and impressive sources of revenue.


Of the proposed budget, Sh9.5 billion will go towards personnel emoluments, Sh4.8 billion on operations, Sh5.7 will be used to repay debts incurred by the defunct City Council, and capital expenditure will be consumed by capital expenditure.


Among the ambitious capital projects that Kidero has put in focus is the rehabilitation of Pumwani Maternity, City Mortuary and health centres which will cost Sh1.8 billion.


Roads maitainace and drainage, street lighting and other infrastructure equipment have a whopping Sh4.3 billion while new trucks to carry solid waste and management has been allocated Sh 724 million.
Rehabilitation of markets will cost Sh980 million.

-The Star