Governor Jonathan Bii at an empowerment event in Eldoret/FILE

Uasin Gishu residents can breathe a collective sigh of relief as Governor Jonathan Bii’s administration rolls out a Sh10.1 billion budget for 2025/26 with a welcome promise: no new taxes or increased charges.

This fiscal roadmap, unveiled by Finance executive Micah Rogony at the county assembly, aims for balance, prioritising the issues that truly matter to the people of Uasin Gishu.

Rogony said the budget was a midterm review for Bii’s administration and would help look at the performance so far and address challenges while focusing on the future.

He said the county had cumulatively lost over Sh3 billion as uncollected own-source revenue, but was on a positive trajectory.

“Own source revenue has huge implications on our budget and we will focus on meeting our targets to support the budget,” Rogony said.

Last year, over Sh1.4 billion was collected as own-source revenue. This year, the county has already hit the Sh1 billion mark.

Rogony said missing the set targets on own-source revenue distorts the budget, reducing funds targeted for development.

With half of the budget expected to go to recurrent expenditure, Rogony said the county has a bloated workforce of over 5,000 who must be paid salaries and other emoluments.

“There is nothing we can do about that, but we should work to increase own source revenue so that we bring down the percentage spent on recurrent budgets.”

The new revenue management system is working well and initial hitches have been streamlined, he added.

The CEC said the county would focus on accelerating ongoing projects under Bii’s Nguzo Kumi agenda while seeking to raise more revenue and use the same as a turning point to do better.

“The aim is we want to move very fast and implement our programmes as soon as the new financial year begins on July 1.”

Rogony said they would invest in sensitising residents on own-source revenue to enhance their awareness and willingness to voluntarily remit levies.

In the budget estimates, the county plans to increase funding on roads, to speed up growth of other sectors.

Rogony said they had also considered youth and people living with disabilities, who would benefit from allocations in the budget.

The Fanikisha Initiative will see finances set aside to support youth and enable them to start income-generating projects.

The county also plans to continue supporting the ongoing diversification programme in the agriculture sector, especially distribution of coffee seedlings to farmers.