By REUBEN OLITA
September 26, 2026| Busia County’s projected resource requirements for the 2027–2028 financial year have placed roads, public works and health among the key priority areas, with the county requiring approximately Sh12 billion to finance its programmes.
Roads and Public Works has the highest development resource requirement at Sh890 million, followed by Smart Agriculture, while Health and Sanitation ranks third with a development requirement of Sh504 million. On projected recurrent expenditure, however, the Health docket takes the lead with Sh2.9 billion, followed by the County Assembly at Sh957 million and the County Treasury at Sh847 million.
The proposed health sector investments include the deployment of an advanced Saver ambulance to Teso North Sub-County Hospital, with Nambale Sub-County Hospital also expected to benefit from the programme. Teso North Sub-County Hospital is also earmarked for the installation of a solar backup system and comprehensive refurbishment. The hospital is further expected to benefit from a medical-waste collection lorry under a programme that will see similar vehicles procured for the county’s other nine sub-county hospitals.
The plans also provide for the completion of the Alupe Mother and Child Specialised Hospital, while preparations have been finalised for the expansion of the mortuary at Busia County Referral Hospital. In addition, the county government plans to increase the number of Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) from 2,201 to 2,500.
However, the implementation of some health projects planned for the 2025–2026 financial year faced challenges. Some projects were halted after funds allocated to them were reallocated to settle pending bills, while others failed to take off after failing to attract bidders. Some projects have already been awarded and are awaiting delivery.
The department identified a number of challenges affecting service delivery and project implementation, including a high wage bill, staffing gaps and inadequate budgetary allocation for medicines. Other challenges include delays in staff recruitment, pressure arising from cross-border movement and disease transmission—including outbreaks such as Ebola—contractors failing to meet project timelines, and delays in the release of funds by the county finance department and the national exchequer. These delays have, in turn, affected payments to suppliers and contractors as well as the implementation of various programmes.
The health department has also identified emerging challenges, including the rising burden of non-communicable diseases, high attrition of healthcare workers migrating to better-paying counties, the private sector or overseas, and increasing cross-border health dynamics associated with population mobility and disease transmission risks involving neighbouring countries. The transition to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and the implementation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) have also been identified as emerging issues requiring additional attention and resources.
With Teso North having the highest number of divisions, locations and sub-locations in the county, the proposed investment in its sub-county hospital is expected to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and emergency response in the area.