Despite Contributing Over Ksh. 600 Million, Thika Barely Received Amount Equivalent to Thika Level 5 Hospital Collections

Thika residents have raised concerns over what they describe as unfair resource allocation, claiming that despite the region contributing more than Ksh. 600 million annually in local revenue collections to Kiambu County Government, the amount returned for development is barely equivalent to what is generated by Thika Level 5 Hospital alone.

The concerns were raised during a stakeholders’ engagement pushing for the creation of Thika County, where proponents argued that the region has continued to contribute heavily to Kiambu County’s revenue basket while receiving disproportionately low allocations in return.

Speaking during the forum, CPA Raphael Maruri, the Secretary and Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Convener for accountants covering seven counties from Tharaka Nithi to Kiambu, said the push for Thika County is largely informed by economic realities and financial data.

Maruri, a native of Thika, said figures from the Controller of Budget and the Office of the Auditor General paint a worrying picture of how much the region contributes compared to what it receives back in development funding.

According to him, Thika Municipality collected approximately KSh642 million during the 2024/2025 financial year through business permits, market fees, billboards and other local revenue streams.

However, he said less than half of that amount was allocated back to Thika Sub-County.

“At the same time, Thika Level 5 Hospital alone collected about KSh242 million, yet the total allocation back to the sub-county was around KSh292 million. Essentially, what was allocated to Thika is almost equivalent to what the hospital alone generated,” he said.

Maruri argued that the figures demonstrate why many residents feel shortchanged despite Thika being one of Kenya’s key economic and industrial centres.

He maintained that with proper management and devolved control of resources, the proposed Thika County would comfortably sustain itself financially and improve service delivery to residents.

“We are looking at the numbers and saying that with a well-managed county, we have the ability to collect between KSh900 million and KSh1.2 billion annually from existing revenue streams alone,” he said.

Often referred to as the “Birmingham of Kenya” because of its industrial strength, Thika remains one of the country’s largest manufacturing hubs. Maruri noted that the town currently hosts about 58 manufacturing firms whose taxes, permits and levies contribute significantly to county revenues.

Beyond manufacturing, he pointed to healthcare as another major source of income, noting that the proposed county hosts several hospitals besides Thika Level 5 Hospital, which together could generate close to KSh500 million annually.

The stakeholders also highlighted the rapid growth of the real estate sector in areas such as Karimenu, Kanyenyaini, Kamenu, Umoja and the township wards, saying the region has increasingly become a preferred investment and residential destination.

“All the rates and stamp duties collected from these developments come from this region. We estimate the real estate sector alone could generate close to KSh600 million,” Maruri said.

Agriculture and horticulture were also listed among the proposed county’s economic strengths. The area hosts large-scale agricultural investments, including Del Monte and several horticultural enterprises, which stakeholders said would significantly support the local economy if revenues generated remained within the region.

Tourism potential was equally cited, with stakeholders mentioning attractions such as Fourteen Falls and other recreational sites capable of generating more than KSh150 million annually if properly developed and marketed.

Quarrying and construction materials were also identified as major economic contributors, with proponents noting that many machine-cut stones used across the country originate from the proposed county area.

According to Maruri, the sector could generate between KSh100 million and KSh180 million annually through licensing and related levies.

He further pointed to water and sanitation services, saying Thika Water and Sewerage Company currently serves more than 300,000 residents and has the capacity to generate substantial local revenue.

Education institutions also featured prominently in the presentation, with stakeholders noting that the proposed county hosts three major universities and several TVET institutions whose inspection fees and related levies could generate more than KSh60 million annually.

Based on the projected population of approximately 1.2 million people, Maruri said the proposed county would also qualify for between KSh4 billion and KSh5 billion annually in equitable share allocation from the national government.

“Combined with own-source revenue, Thika County could easily manage more than KSh8 billion annually, making it fully sustainable and capable of delivering better services directly to residents,” he said.