The Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) has been allocated additional Sh5.15 billion for building 19 new health centres, installing water and street lighting in informal residences as well as off-setting part of the county’s pending bills.
Treasury secretary Ukur Yatani says in the mini-budget, tabled before the National Assembly on Tuesday, that the NMS will get a further Sh3.62 billion in project funds and Sh1.53 billion in recurrent expenditure.
The increased allocation now takes the agency’s budget for this financial year ending June 2021 to Sh33.56 billion from Sh28.41 billion.
“The increase is on account of provision for settlement of pending bills, health services improvement plan… (and) improvement of infrastructure (water and street lighting) in informal settlements,” Mr Yatani explains in the supplementary budget report.
The NMS in March 2020 took over health, transport, public works, utilities and ancillary services as well as planning and development functions of the county, which serves as Kenya’s seat of power.
This was after former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko late February 2020 agreed, under article 187 of the constitution, to transfer those functions to the national government.
Part of the additional cash will help fund the completion, equipping and staffing of 19 Level 2 and 3 hospitals, which is part of the 24 hospitals the NMS has been constructing since July 2020 in informal residences at an initial budget of Sh2 billion.
The targeted health centres are located in Viwandani, Majengo, Mathare, Kayole Soweto, Korogocho, Kawangware, Gitare Marigu, Mukuru kwa Njenga, Mukuru kwa Reuben, Kibra and Githurai.
Mr Yatani says the fresh funding is also going into refurbishment, equipping and staffing of Mama Lucy Hospital, which is set to be upgraded from county referral to Level 5 hospital, as well as construction and refurbishment of Mathare-Korogocho Hospital.
Unlock a world of exclusive content today!Unlock a world of exclusive content today!
