Nyeri: Nyeri Governor Dr. Mutahi Kahiga on Tuesday signed the 2026/2027 Appropriation Bill into law, pledging to complete projects initiated a decade ago. The Sh8.7 billion budget designates Sh6 billion, or 67%, for recurrent spending, while Sh2.67 billion, or 31%, is earmarked for development projects.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Division of Revenue Bill 2026 allocates counties Sh428 billion, with the national government receiving Sh2.4 trillion for fiscal spending in 2026/2027. Nyeri’s Equitable Share for this financial year is set at Sh7 billion, with its own source revenue expected to bridge any budgetary gaps. Dr. Kahiga, while assenting to the bill, emphasized the importance of paying contractors and avoiding additional pending bills before the end of the current financial year.
With an upcoming electioneering year, Dr. Kahiga expressed his commitment to completing all projects initiated in the past decade, ensuring no unfinished ventures are left as he exits office. He highlighted the Roads and Education sectors as major beneficiaries of the budget, with allocations of Sh471 million and Sh434 million, respectively.
The budget also allocates Sh305 million to Health, Sh288 million to Water and Climate Change, Sh254 million to Agriculture, Sh259 million to Nyeri Municipality, and Sh182 million to Gender, Youth, and Sports. In Health, Sh100 million is set aside for essential drugs, and Sh56 million for constructing an Emergency and Accident wing at Karatina Level 5 Hospital. The Roads sector will see Sh162 million spent on access road improvements and Sh90 million on street lights in rural towns.
As this is his penultimate budget before leaving office, Dr. Kahiga announced plans to convert ECD teachers and UHC staff from the national government in 2020 into permanent roles. He also emphasized efforts to reduce the county’s wage bill while maintaining Nyeri’s commitment to absorbing all Early and Continuing Education Teachers on a permanent basis.
The Governor attributed the successful budgetary allocation to the strong collaboration between the executive and county assembly. He praised the County Assembly of Nyeri, led by Speaker Gichuhi Mwangi, and Budget Committee Chairman Erastus Muriuki, for ensuring that each of the county’s 30 wards receives a minimum of Sh15 million for development. The event was attended by Deputy Governor David Kinaniri, Finance CECM Robert Thuo, Majority Leader James Kanyugo, and others.
