Bungoma governor Kenneth Lusaka has launched the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) that aims to increase revenue collection.
Lusaka disclosed that currently the county is short of a staggering deficit of Sh20.5 billion in the execution of the CIDP spanning from 2023 to 2027.
Speaking during the official launch of the CIDP at Kibabii University on Monday, Lusaka underscored the pressing need for a total funding of Sh 97.6 billion to realise the full scope of development objectives set forth by his administration, against the projected county revenue of Ksh 77.1 billion.
"We are committed to robustly increasing our internal revenue sources through fortified governmental structures.
"We are poised to escalate our revenue collection by more than 66 percent in the short term with expectations of sustained growth that will substantially bridge the existing funding gap," Lusaka affirmed.
Governor Lusaka's developmental strategy emphasises the priority of concluding halted initiatives, among them the completion and equipping of the 300-bed and 100-bed maternity and pediatric units at the Bungoma County Referral Hospital and Sirisia Sub-County Hospital respectively.
Also, the modernization and expansion of the Masinde Muliro Stadium.
The commissioning of the County Dairy Processing Plant in Webuye and the activation of the Chwele Chicken Slaughter House constitute pivotal objectives.
Lusaka has also earmarked for completion diverse stalled projects such as the commissioning and completion of Brigadier Road in Tongaren and the 6.5-kilometer elevated dual -carriageway from Kanduyi to Musikoma, a traffic-heavy stretch.
"Our mission entails a re-invigoration of the county's economic landscape, orchestrating perpetual market and street illumination to foster a round-the-clock economy for our business community.
"We are poised to extend trade loans and reignite the Youth, Women, and Disability Funds, equipping residents to embark on entrepreneurial ventures that promise sustainability," said Lusaka.
Governor Lusaka affirmed that the county's pursuit of the outlined development plan would seamlessly integrate with overarching global frameworks. This includes the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, Africa's Agenda 2063, and the Fourth Medium Plan of Kenya Vision 2030.
"We shall augment investments in micro, small, and medium enterprises," he said.
He however confirmed that Bungoma County lacks sufficient investment in industrialization, an aspect that weakens the county’s efforts at value addition.
“To spur growth, we are working with the national government to establish an industrial park to help achieve the infrastructural economies of scale and aggression,” Lusaka said.
Lusaka further reiterated the county's commitment to proactive measures against climate change and its repercussions, demonstrating an amplified dedication to climate resilience and endorsing sustainable practices as a means of mitigating the impacts of climate change.
