The County Government of Siaya continues to strengthen its budget planning and development framework through the involvement of sector working groups and adherence to a structured budget-making process. During a three-day workshop held at Camunya Hotel in Ugunja Sub-County from Tuesday to Thursday, sector working groups presented their FY 2025/26 development reports to the County Budget and Economic Forum (CBEF).
The forum that brought together representatives from various departments, including Hillary Omondi, Elizabeth Bonga, and Shirleen Adhiambo from CBEF, intended to align their strategic plans with the County Annual Development Plan (ADP). The workshop was organized by the Department of Finance and Economic Planning, which has been coordinating the development efforts for the fiscal year.
The presentations spanned multiple days, with different sectors sharing updates on their projects and programs:
- Monday: The Departments of Agriculture, Irrigation, Food, Livestock, Fisheries, Water, Environment, Climate Change, and Natural Resources presented their reports.
- Wednesday, January 14th: Departments of Public Works, Energy, Roads and Transport, Lands, Tourism, Culture, Sports and Arts, Trade, Enterprise, and Industrialization, and the Siaya, Bondo, and Ugunja Municipalities shared their updates.
- Thursday: Presentations were made by the Departments of Education, Youth, Gender, Social Services, Finance, Economic Planning, County Public Service Board, Office of the County Attorney, and Governance, Administration, and ICT.
The Department of Governance, Administration, and ICT, represented by Director of Public Communication Mr. Chrispine Omondi, Director of Disaster Management Mr. Francis Aola, and West Ugenya Ward Administrator Madam Dianna Abuto, highlighted their challenges and objectives. These included financial constraints, the need for modern communication equipment, additional ward offices, and increased resources for disaster management. They appealed for more funding to enhance governance-related areas and improve response capabilities for emergencies.
The workshop’s presentations form part of the broader budget-making process for the County Government of Siaya, as explained by the Director of Budget and Planning, Mr. Lawrence Nyamweya. The process follows six key steps:
- The Budget Circular: By 30th August of the previous year, the county government circulates the Annual Development Plan, marking the beginning of the budget-making process.
- Forwarding the Annual Development Plan: This plan, containing sector proposals for the upcoming financial year, is forwarded to the county assembly.
- County Budget Review and Outlook Paper (CBROP): The county assembly reviews past departmental performance to identify areas for adjustment or retention in the proposed budget, prioritizing critical needs and resource allocation.
- Sector Working Group Reports: Heads of departments submit resource bids, which are vetted by CBEF members and the secretariat. A draft report is compiled and sent to the cabinet for approval.
- Draft County Fiscal Strategic Paper: This budget policy statement outlines what will appear in the final budget.
- Public Participation: A draft of the Fiscal Strategic Paper is presented to the public for feedback, ensuring inclusivity and transparency.
- Final Draft: The finalized budget is approved by the cabinet and submitted to the county assembly for deliberation and adoption.
The integration of sector working group reports into the budget-making process underscores the county’s commitment to participatory governance and effective resource allocation. This collaborative approach ensures that the strategic priorities of each department are aligned with the overall development agenda for the FY 2025/26.