The County Government of Siaya, led by County Secretary Mr. Joseph Ogutu, hosted a team from the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Unit of the Office of the Controller of Budget (CoB) to assess the implementation of key county government projects and programs. The purpose of the visit is to monitor the implementation of Facility Improvement Fund (FIF). The FIF provides financing for health facility upgrades, while the M&E exercise ensures that funds are utilized transparently, efficiently, and effectively to improve health service delivery.
The team also sought to establish the number of public funds established by the county that are currently operational, along with banking arrangements for the County Government of Siaya. It further aims at reviewing the utilization of the Equalisation Fund and Municipal Board operations. The M&E process helps reduce marginalisation by verifying whether these essential services are reaching the intended communities.
Projects sampled under the County Revenue Fund (CRF) include: Installation of tartan track at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Stadium, refrigeration at the Bondo Funeral Parlour, Installation of Siriwo Rice mill in Usonga Ward, equipping three surgical theatres at the Siaya County Referral Hospital, completion of Oboch Dispensary in East Asembo Ward and acquisition of storage tanks for Bondo Sub-County Hospital.
Sampled equalization funded projects include; electricity supply to Sulwe, Gombe, Oranya Village, Ogero market and Unyumba, construction and pipping of Ndela Water Supply, water supply at Nguge Polytechnic, Kanyilaji Market, Kanyilaji Primary School with progress of a drilled borehole and fully equipped solar powered pumping system. Construction of Modern maternity wing with laboratory and a twin staff house and desiltation of Kajulu Water Pan. Ndeda, Nguge, Rera, and Kagulu roads are also sampled projects that are funded through the County Revenue Fund and Equalisation Fund
The monitoring and evaluation exercise strengthens accountability and fosters closer collaboration between the national and county governments. It ensures that counties remain accountable to the National Government for the proper implementation of funded projects.
The team from the CoB included Mr. Newton Kilinga (Team Leader), Ms. Phenny Wamboka, Ms. Irene Makokha, Ms. Pamela Okach, Mr. Peter Mulamba and Mr. Elton Khaemba. The County Secretary was flanked by the County Executive Committee Member for Governance, Administration, and ICT, CS Agunda Ochanda, Chief Officer for Health and Sanitation, Dr. Omondi Owino, Chief Officer for Finance and Economic Planning Mr. Jack Odinga