Migori County Governor Ochilo Ayacko has announced that his administration is targeting to collect Sh760 million in local revenue during the 2025/2026 financial year as part of measures to strengthen the county’s financial base and reduce overreliance on national government allocations.
Speaking during his Annual State of the County Address to the Migori County Assembly on Wednesday evening, Ochilo said the county had already collected Sh285 million in own-source revenue by the end of 2025. He expressed optimism that the figure could surpass the Sh709 million realised in the 2024/2025 financial year.
The governor attributed the improved performance to the ongoing rollout and upgrade of revenue automation systems aimed at sealing loopholes associated with manual revenue collection. He noted that automation has enhanced efficiency and accountability in the management of public funds.
“As we continue to strengthen our revenue automation systems, we are sealing gaps that previously led to losses under manual collection. This will increase returns and improve service delivery to our people,” said Ochilo.
He explained that continuous system upgrades are designed to enhance transparency, enable real-time reporting, and integrate revenue streams with financial management systems. The move, he added, will improve revenue predictability and minimise opportunities for mismanagement or leakages.
On healthcare, the governor announced that his administration has allocated Sh450 million to upgrade all eight sub-county hospitals from Level Three to Level Four facilities. The initiative aims to improve access to quality healthcare services and reduce congestion at the Migori County Referral Hospital.
Ochilo underscored the central role of healthcare in socio-economic development, noting that a healthy population is critical to driving productivity and wealth creation within the county.
In addition, the Migori County Referral Hospital is being upgraded from Level Four to Level Five at an estimated cost of Sh500 million. The expansion will include improved integrated and specialised services such as an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), High Dependency Unit (HDU), Cancer Centre, additional wards, and modern theatres. The improvements are expected to significantly enhance critical care services for residents across the county.
To strengthen human resources in the health sector, the county has promoted 896 health workers to enhance motivation and career progression. Over the past two financial years (2023/2024 and 2024/2025), 108 additional health workers have also been recruited to address staffing shortages.
Further, the administration continues to provide stipends to 3,400 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) operating in all 40 wards. The CHPs play a vital role in strengthening preventive and promotive healthcare services at the grassroots level.
In the aquaculture sector, the governor revealed that Sh28.1 million was allocated in the last financial year to boost strategic interventions benefiting fish farmers, traders, Beach Management Units (BMUs), and local communities across the eight sub-counties. The funding supported value chain improvements and capacity-building initiatives.
To reduce post-harvest losses and improve market access, the county installed two modern cold storage facilities at Isebania Bus Park and Uriri Market. The facilities are expected to enhance fish quality, extend shelf life, and increase earnings for traders.
On education, Ochilo announced that the county will construct 114 Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centres in the 2025/2026 financial year at a cost of Sh52 million. This follows the establishment of 203 ECDE classrooms in the 2024/2025 financial year aimed at strengthening foundational learning.
Additionally, the county plans to employ 50 more ECDE tutors to improve the teacher-pupil ratio and enhance the quality of early childhood education.
The governor urged residents to support both county and national government projects, emphasising that collective effort is essential for development.
“What we do as a county, supplemented by the national government, is for the benefit of all Migori residents. What matters is the spirit of togetherness and support to ensure these projects are completed within stipulated timelines to serve our people,” Ochilo said.
By Makokha Khaoya
