Mombasa raises new year budget to Sh12.2 billion

An artistic impression of Konza City. Critics warn that such satellite cities come with a range of flaws that might damage overall urban development in the long run. Photo/FILE  

By MATHIAS RINGA

In Summary

• Mombasa County expects to receive Sh4.3 billion from the National Treasury, to collect Sh5.5 billion from the local revenue sources and to receive Sh2.3 billion from development partners.

Mombasa County’s proposed budget for the financial year 2014/2015 is expected to rise by Sh500 million to Sh12.2 billion.

Of this, the county expects to receive Sh4.3 billion from the National Treasury, to collect Sh5.5 billion from the local revenue sources and to receive Sh2.3 billion from development partners.

Finance executive Walid Khalid attributed the proposed budget rise to improved of revenue collection from Sh800,000 a day to Sh15 million after the finance department sealed corruption loopholes at the County Hall.

“Last year, we were forced to revise the budget from Sh33 billion to Sh11.7 billion after the national government rejected the budget that had a deficit of Sh9 billion,” he said.

“This time round, we are proposing a realistic budget of Sh12.2 billion, which we expect to meet,” he said.

In the last six months, Mr Khalid said, the county had collected Sh1.1 billion compared to the same figure which was collected by the defunct Mombasa Municipal Council in the year 2012/2013.

The recurrent expenditure, he added, would drop to Sh7 billion in the next financial year down from Sh7.9 billion currently.

Development expenditure, Mr Khalid said, is expected to increase to Sh5.2 billion up from Sh4.7 billion in 2013/2014.

The finance official said the county expects to spend Sh4 billion on salaries of its more than 4,000 workers compared to Sh3.6 billion in the current financial year.

Tourism has been allocated Sh200 million; finance and economic planning Sh200 million, transport and infrastructure Sh150 million and trade and industrial development Sh104 million.

The county plans to allocate Sh110 million for water, environment and natural resources while the city of Mombasa will get Sh100 million.

Agriculture will get Sh102 million and Public Services Sh71 million.

Mr Khalid was speaking when he presented the county fiscal strategy paper to the public on Monday at the Kenya School of Government in Mombasa.

Salaries and allowances

But the proposed budget drew sharp reactions from Mombasa residents