A high-level World Bank delegation is in Nyeri County to assess the performance, impact and accountability of development projects funded under various World Bank-supported programmes, as the county government rolls out projects worth billions of shillings across key sectors.
The delegation, led by World Bank Group Managing Director and Chief Administrative Officer Wencai Zhang and World Bank Country Director for Kenya Qimiao Fan, is inspecting projects financed through flagship funds including the Kenya Informal Settlements Improvement Project (KISIP), the Kenya Devolution Support Programme (KDSP), the National Agricultural and Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP) and the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FloCCA) programme.
Nyeri County officials say the projects span education, health, agriculture, water and land management, with several programmes currently in their second phase. According to the county government, the World Bank-supported interventions complement locally financed projects that are reshaping service delivery across the eight sub-counties.
Education, health and infrastructure investments under focus
Education infrastructure featured prominently during the inspection tour, with the delegation visiting Nyamachaki Primary and Junior School and Kamwenja Teachers Training College to inspect classrooms and an ICT laboratory constructed with World Bank support. County officials reported that a total of 272 classrooms have been constructed across Nyeri County under the programme, contributing to improved grade transition and curriculum delivery.
The inspection comes against the backdrop of major county-led investments. Governor Mutahi Kahiga has said the county plans to spend at least Sh1.6 billion on development projects during the remainder of the 2023/2024 financial year.
“From our county-specific projects, we will spend Sh1.6 billion in development. These range from the county industrial park, the completion of Karatina Level Hospital emergency block, renovation works in all our hospitals, upgrading town roads, completion of the Kairuthi Milk Plant and purchasing disaster response equipment,” Governor Kahiga said in a recent address.
Health infrastructure remains a priority, with Narumoru Hospital already operational. However, the governor acknowledged staffing gaps, noting that the county plans to recruit 125 medical personnel to strengthen service delivery.
Fiscal performance, World Bank ratings and accountability
Financial data shows Nyeri County spent Sh89.2 million on development projects in the first quarter of the 2023/2024 financial year, while recurrent expenditure stood at Sh1.09 billion. Despite pressure on recurrent spending, the county says it has consistently met the statutory requirement of allocating at least 30 per cent of its total budget to development.
“Our county has ensured and sustained fiscal discipline, with an average absorption rate of 96 per cent of funds disbursed by the National Treasury and external partners,” Governor Kahiga said. “We have also cleared all pending bills owed to suppliers.”
Nyeri has previously ranked among the top-performing counties under the World Bank’s KDSP assessments, which evaluate counties on public financial management, planning and monitoring, human resource management, public participation and investment implementation.
According to county figures, Nyeri collected Sh610.6 million in own-source revenue, representing 76.3 per cent of its Sh800 million target. In addition, Sh735 million has been set aside to fund development projects across 300 wards, covering roads, street lighting, classrooms, dispensaries, bridges and agricultural programmes.
World Bank officials said the inspection tour is aimed at verifying results on the ground, strengthening accountability and informing future funding decisions, as both the county government and development partners seek to align spending with measurable impact for residents of Nyeri.
