Nairobi County Finance Executive Charles Kerich on Tuesday presented the county’s 2018/2019 budget.
Kerich said that Nairobi is working on more measures to ensure increased revenue collection that dropped from Sh12billion to Sh8billion in the last financial year.
The county government has targeted Supermarkets, private parking premises and gambling firms, that will now be charged new levies to boost revenue collection.
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko said he was happy and confident with the budget estimates as presented by Kerich. He said the budget is in line with his vision of making Nairobi the city of choice to invest, work. and live in.
To that effect, Sonko outlined the plans he has for the Capital in the 2018/19 financial year.
Read his statement below.
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The strategies to be employed in the 2018/19 financial yr include completion of ongoing infrastructure projects, improve access to quality/affordable health care and business environment, promoting urban agriculture, job creation, as well as cleaning the environment.
My County gov’t will continue to deepen financial management reforms seal loopholes that lead to inefficient use of public resources. We’ll leverage on IT to ensure automation and integration of all services through procurement of an Enterprise Resource Planner.
My gov’t has provided capitation for all learners in public ECDE centres and this means ECDE education in Nairobi is now free of charge. This is expected to translate to 100% access and retention for all children between the ages of 4 and 6 years.
We are working in partnership with the National Gov’t to fast-track the Nairobi Mass Rapid Transport System. Safety of motorists and pedestrians remain a top priority of my Gov’t. We have allocated resources for the development of public transport, bridges and non-motorized facilities.
In addition to steps to hasten the approval process of building plans, we will propose a reduction in approval fees for building plans to encourage compliance to support the Presidential directive on the four pillars of economic growth over the next five years.
The total revenue projection is Sh32b made up of Sh16.5b (51.5% of total) transfers from National Gov’t and Sh15.5b (48.5% of total) from internally generated revenues. Out of this 30% of the available resources will be allocated for development expenditures.
We’ll abolish the Sh25 charged on mama Mbogas operating in the estates. This is expected to transfer direct benefits to households estimated at Sh3b annually. This reprieve will however not affect traders operating in designated markets.
My County Gov’t will seek to give incentives to private players who wish to develop new parking bays outside their premises in order to increase the total number of parking slots available and generate revenue.
In addition, since the ban on plastic bags, many supermarkets have taken to charging their customers for shopping carrier bags. Supermarkets that charge shoppers for bags will be required to pay a fee.
Gambling, gaming, and lotteries are devolved functions under the Constitution. However, the county has not received its fair share from this sector and my county gov’t will introduce a fee to correct this.
I thank all fellow Nairobians for their contributions, proposals, and suggestions in the formulation of the budget. Thank you.
