Three weeks ago, 8th April 2020, the County Assembly of Nakuru passed the second supplementary for the 2019/20 financial year.
The supplementary budget totalling 645 million will go towards dealing with Covid-19 pandemic, mitigate against the invasion by desert locusts and the installation of high mast streetlights (mulika mwizi) in various parts of the county.
Out of the 645 million, Kshs. 310,000,000 was put into the anti-Covid-19 kitty. These funds are meant to offer assistance to those affected directly or indirectly from the coronavirus. In addition, the funds will be used to improve health facilities and provide personal protective equipment (PPEs) to the health workers in the frontline against covid-19.
Covid-19 was declared a global emergency on 30th January 2020 and a pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11th March 2020. Nakuru has so far reported two positive cases who have since recovered.
How the Kshs. 310,000,000 was shared
Out of the 310 million, 20 million has been set aside as a county emergency fund. Should any emergency arise during this Covid-19 period, these will be the funds that will go towards dealing with this.
A further 30,000,000 was retained in the office of the governor. These are the funds that the governor has been using to provide food and other essentials to the affected individuals and other vulnerable groups in the last weeks. The funds are specifically for the provision of humanitarian aid and food assistance.
A total of 250,000,000 will be used to provide humanitarian assistance to vulnerable families in the wards. Of these, 205 Million will be shared equally among the 55 wards while the extra 45 million will be shared between 34 wards considered to be most affected. The MCAs and their ward committees have been put to be in-charge of these funds. There is also a County Assembly committee overseeing these funds.
The targeted beneficiaries for this humanitarian assistance include those living in various slum areas in Nakuru and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who are still living in camps.
The funds are also meant to help those who have been rendered jobless due to the coronavirus epidemic. They include those who work in various flower farms across the county, Delamare farmworkers and tea farmworkers within the county.
The remaining Kshs. 10,000,000 out of the 310 million will be used to mitigate against the desert locusts invasion.
Covid-19 allocation per ward
| Ward | Allocation | Affected employees |
| Nyota | 5,200,000 | Flower Farm Workers |
| Kamara | 3,700,000 | |
| Sirikwa | 5,200,000 | Flower Farm Workers |
| Kiptororo | 3,700,000 | |
| Malewa | 5,200,000 | Flower Farm Workers |
| Eburru/Mabaruk | 5,200,000 | Delamere Farm Workers |
| Murindati | 5,200,000 | Flower Farm Workers |
| Elementaita | 3,700,000 | |
| Gilgil | 5,200,000 | IDP Camps |
| Marioshoni | 3,700,000 | |
| Elburgon | 5,200,000 | Slum area residents |
| Molo | 5,200,000 | Flower Farm Workers |
| Turi | 5,200,000 | Flower Farm Workers |
| Njoro | 5,200,000 | Flower Farm workers |
| Mau Narok | 5,200,000 | Flower Farm Workers |
| Mauche | 3,700,000 | |
| Lare | 3,700,000 | |
| Nessuit | 5,200,000 | Flower Farm Workers |
| Kihingo | 3,700,000 | |
| Kaptembwo | 5,200,000 | Slum dwellers |
| Shabaab | 3,700,000 | |
| London | 5,200,000 | Slum dwellers |
| Rhoda | 5,200,000 | Slum dwellers |
| Kapkures | 3,700,000 | |
| Barut | 3,700,000 | |
| Tinet | 3,700,000 | |
| Amalo | 3,700,000 | |
| Keringet | 5,200,000 | Flower Farm workers |
| Kiptagich | 5,200,000 | IDPs, Tea Pickers |
| Visoi | 3,700,000 | |
| Mosop | 5,200,000 | Flower Farm workers |
| Soin | 5,200,000 | Flower Farm Workers & IDPs |
| Menengai West | 3,700,000 | |
| Solai | 3,700,000 | |
| Viwandani | 5,200,000 | Slum area residents |
| Biashara (Nvs) | 5,200,000 | Flower Farm workers |
| Hells Gate | 5,200,000 | Flower Farm Workers |
| Maiella | 5,200,000 | Flower Farm Workers |
| Ol’Karia | 5,200,000 | Flower Farm Workers |
| Naivasha East | 3,700,000 | |
| Lakeview | 5,200,000 | Slum area residents |
| Maai Mahiu | 5,200,000 | Flower Farm Workers |
| Nakuru East | 5,200,000 | Slum area residents |
| Menengai East | 3,700,000 | |
| Flamingo | 5,200,000 | Slum area residents |
| Biashara (Town East) | 5,200,000 | Slum area residents |
| Kivumbini | 5,200,000 | Slum area residents |
| Kabazi | 5,200,000 | Flower Farm Workers |
| Waseges | 3,700,000 | |
| Subukia | 5,200,000 | Flower Farm Workers |
| Kabatini | 3,700,000 | |
| Bahati | 5,200,000 | Flower Farm Workers |
| Lanet Umoja | 3,700,000 | |
| Kiamaina | 5,200,000 | Sand harvesters |
| Dondori | 3,700,000 |
Allocations to the Health Department – 150,000,000
The supplementary budget also gave an extra Kshs. 150,000,000 to the Nakuru County health department. Out of this, 40 million will be used for the purchase of PPEs including masks, gowns, disinfectants and detergents. Drugs worth 48 million are also set to be bought.
To facilitate the movement of persons involved in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, 3.9 million will be spent while 10 million will cater for the training of health facility workers and community health workers on how to deal with the coronavirus.
While 3.7 million goes to the purchase of medical equipment, 43.1 million will be used to recruit (on contract basis) extra health workers.