By Rhayan Kanyandong
Rarieda residents have called on the Siaya County Government to prioritize quality, accountability and value for money in the implementation of development projects as the county begins public consultations for the 2027/2028 financial year budget.
The call was made during a public participation forum held on Wednesday at Mahaya Chiefs Camp in West Asembo Ward, Rarieda Sub-County, which marked the beginning of the county’s budget consultation exercise in the area.
The exercise is being conducted within the constitutional and legal framework governing public finance management and citizen participation, particularly Article 220(2) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, and Section 117 of the Public Finance Management Act, 2012. These provisions guide county fiscal planning and provide for public participation in the formulation of budget priorities.
The submissions gathered during the consultations will inform the County Fiscal Strategy Paper (CFSP) for the 2027/2028 financial year, which outlines the county’s strategic priorities and expenditure framework. The paper will subsequently guide preparation of the annual county budget and the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework covering the 2025/2026 to 2027/2028 financial years.
Mr. Moses Sigunda, a resident of Siger Sublocation, commended the county government for involving citizens in the budget preparation process but urged the administration to ensure that public resources translate into quality projects and tangible development outcomes.
He emphasised that budget implementation should not be measured solely by the amount of money allocated or spent, but also by the quality, durability and impact of completed projects.
Mr. Sigunda’s remarks brought into focus the importance of strengthening project supervision and accountability to ensure that taxpayers receive value for money.
The consultation provides residents with an opportunity to identify priority development areas, highlight gaps in service delivery and submit proposals to inform the county’s expenditure plans for the coming financial year.
Public participation is a critical component of the devolved governance framework, enabling citizens to contribute to decisions on resource allocation and hold public institutions accountable for development commitments.
For communities in Rarieda, the consultations provide an opportunity to influence the prioritisation of projects and programmes addressing local needs, including infrastructure, water, health, education, agriculture, youth empowerment and other essential services.
The county’s consultation exercise will continue across the remaining wards in Rarieda, with East Asembo Ward scheduled to hold its engagement at Katombo Hall today, followed by North Uyoma Ward at Ragenni Social Hall on November 13.
South Uyoma Ward will host its forum at Ndigwa Chief’s Camp on November 16, while the exercise will conclude in West Uyoma Ward at Manyuanda MCA’s Office on November 17, 2026.
Residents, community-based organisations, civil society groups, faith-based organisations, youth, women, persons with disabilities and private sector representatives are expected to participate in the subsequent forums and submit proposals on their development priorities.
The opening engagement at Mahaya Chiefs Camp has set the pace for the remaining consultations, with residents being encouraged to move beyond identifying development needs and actively participate in shaping solutions and monitoring the utilisation of public resources.
The ultimate test of the consultation process will be whether the proposals and concerns raised by residents are reflected in the county’s fiscal priorities, budget allocations and implementation of projects across the sub-county.
The Rarieda public participation exercise was led by Sub-County Administrator Richard Kodindo, who headed the county delegation, with technical support from Mark Wanyama, an economist in the Department of Finance and Economic Planning.
