Women, youth biggest gainers Siaya County budget

Community Health Volunteers (CHVs), youth, persons with disability and women entrepreneurs are the biggest gainers in Siaya County’s budget for the fiscal year 2016/2017.

In the 2016/17 budget estimates, the county government has increased the CHVs’ monthly honoraria from the current Ksh 2,000 to Ksh 3,000 per month.

Speaking while presenting the budget in the county assembly chambers, chairman of the assembly’s budget and appropriation committee Mr. Jack Odinga said that the CHVs have played an integral role in the enhancement of healthcare service delivery in the county hence the proposal to increase the stipend.

In promoting economic empowerment amongst the youth, persons with disability and women entrepreneurs, the county government has proposed to allocate Ksh 30 million revolving fund.

Mr. Odinga stated that the people of Siaya County greatly appreciate the allocation of funds to empower the special interest groups, and therefore recommended capacity building and training on business plans for the groups earmarked to benefit from the revolving fund.

In enhancing social protection, the county government has allocated Ksh 12 million towards establishing a social Healthcare Insurance scheme.

The healthcare insurance scheme will target the very poor including persons with disability, needy and vulnerable older persons, orphans, widows and widowers to give them easy access to better and quality healthcare.