Nyeri Governor Dr Mutahi Kahiga on Tuesday assented to the 2026 /2027 Appropriation Bill into law with a promise to complete all projects started a decade ago.
From the Sh8.7 billion budget, a total of Sh 6 billion (or 67 %)will go into recurrent spending while Sh2.67 billion (or 31%) will be used to fund development projects.
Under the Division of Revenue Bill 2026, counties had been allocated a total of Sh 428 billion while the national government was given Sh.2.4 trillion for the 2026/2027 fiscal spending.
Nyeri’s allocation for this financial year as Equitable Share is Sh7 billion with its own source revenue expected to plug any budgetary gap.
While assenting to the bill, Dr Kahiga promised to keep the county clear of any additional pending bills and to ensure contractors are paid their dues before the end of the current financial year.
“Considering that we are heading into an electioneering year, we do not want to leave any white elephant projects behind. I would want to make sure that as I exit from office, I do not leave any pending bills nor do I leave incomplete projects. Therefore, working closely with the County Assembly, we will do our best to ensure all projects started within the last ten years are completed this year, “assured Kahiga while addressing the press at his County Hall office yesterday.
The 2026/027 budget has seen Roads and Education sectors take the largest share of the entire funding.
The Education Department will gobble a total of Sh434 million while the Roads and Energy sector has been allocated Sh471 million.
Other sectors that have been allocated a substantial chunk of the budget include Health (Sh305 million), Water and Climate Change (Sh288 million), Agriculture (Sh254 million), Nyeri Municipality (Sh259 million) while Gender, Youth and Sports has been given Sh182 million.
In the Health docket, the County plans to spend Sh100 million in purchasing of essential drugs while Sh56 million will be used to construct an Emergency and Accident wing at the Karatina Level 5 Hospital.
On Roads, Sh162 million will be used for the improvement of access roads in all the 30 wards while Sh90 million will be spent in the installation of street lights in the rural towns.
This being his second last budget before he leaves office next year, Dr Kahiga has also announced plans to commute the services of all ECD teachers and UHC staff inherited from the national government in 2020 into permanent terms.
“Over and above that we are still working towards bringing down the wage bill but Nyeri continues to strive to shine as the county that continues to fully absorb all Early and Continuing Education Teachers on permanent basis. The ones remaining will be converted (into permanent terms) this year. We also would like to make it clear that our Universal Health Care staff recruited by the national government in 2020 are going to be converted in permanent terms,” assured the Governor.
The Governor lauded the close working relationship between the two arms of government (executive and county assembly) which he attributes to the fruitful deliberations that gave birth to the 2026/2027 budgetary allocation.
He said his office will continue to collaborate with Ward Reps in coming up with policies and programs that will benefit not only the present generation but those to come.
“I wish to thank the County Assembly of Nyeri, led by the Speaker Gichuhi Mwangi, for their support in this budget in order to ensure that the budget is utilized within the time frame. This will ensure benefits for the Nyeri citizenry since development will touch all corners of the county. I wish to appreciate the Budget Committee Chairman Erastus Muriuki, for recognizing that each ward of the 30 wards will receive not less than Sh15 million for development” he said.
Others who were present during the event include Deputy Governor David Kinaniri, Finance CECM Robert Thuo, Majority Leader James Kanyugo and County Budget Chairman Erastus Muriuki, among others.
By Samuel Maina
