By Wakhungu Andanja
The public in Kakamega has been urged to actively participate in discussions on the County Fiscal Strategy Paper to ensure their input is considered during budget planning. These calls come as the county anticipates receiving billions of shillings for the 2025/26 financial year budget in June.
Addressing a gathering at Malava Friends Church during a public participation forum on budget planning, County Economic Planning Officer Lauren Omwakwe emphasised the importance of such meetings in the implementation of county projects.
Participants drawn from the seven wards convened to present their views on which projects in their respective wards should be prioritised for implementation. The County Economic Planning Officer stated that each ward would submit a list of proposed projects for county implementation, which would then be incorporated into the County Fiscal Strategy Paper (CSP) report booklet.
She encouraged residents to verify whether their project proposals had been documented via the county website or at the county planning offices, where they could also lodge complaints if their projects were not included.
“It is important for members of the public to validate which projects have been included in the report so that they can be implemented. However, not all will be considered due to financial constraints. Funding from the national government to counties may not be sufficient to implement all proposed projects, so we will prioritise key ones,” she said.
The planning department has consolidated the projects into five key sectors: education and governance, health, environment, roads, and infrastructure, down from the initial 11 departments. The county funds will cover priority projects in each ward within the budget cycle, while the remaining projects may be carried forward to the next financial year for possible implementation.
The annual development plan is drafted in August, followed by an evaluation of the projects before the County Review Outlook Paper and the County Fiscal Paper are developed. This process ensures that public proposals align with the available funding. Municipality Manager Musafiri Kulova highlighted the importance of proper planning with the establishment of the municipality, as numerous developments are expected to be funded by the county budget and development partners.
He noted that Malava’s confirmation as a municipality would spur significant development and stressed the need for inclusivity in forming the municipality board, ensuring representation for women, youths, and persons living with disabilities (PLWDs).
“Public participation is crucial, as it determines which projects will be implemented within the municipality for development purposes,” he said, assuring residents that their concerns would be captured in the County Fiscal Paper for implementation.
Kulova praised Governor Fernandez Barasa’s administration for granting Malava a municipality charter, stating that the move was long overdue given Malava’s status as the largest sub-county in Kakamega County.
Kakamega County Political Advisor to the Governor, Saidi Khasavuli, urged residents to take public participation seriously by attending forums and submitting their proposals, emphasising its role in the county’s development and growth. “As a county, we can only progress if we receive the right views and proposals from the public on which areas require development. This helps us move in the right direction,” he said.
He also encouraged residents to register for the Social Health Authority (SHA) scheme, highlighting its importance in providing healthcare support, especially as the United States withdraws its global medical aid. “Africa, and particularly Kenya, has been hard hit by this withdrawal, as it was one of the beneficiaries. Since the support ceased, healthcare challenges have continued to escalate,” he added.
