The Nayalore administration has taken a decisive step in strengthening Siaya County’s economic backbone through a comprehensive three-day public participation exercise on the Draft Finance Bill 2025. The bill, if passed, aims to raise KSh 3.1 billion in revenue to sustain critical services and spur development across all six sub-counties.
The exercise, rolled out in all 30 wards, was designed to give residents a voice in shaping the financial future of the county. True to Governor James Orengo’s reformist vision, the draft bill strikes a careful balance between raising sustainable revenue and cushioning ordinary citizens from punitive charges.
A Comprehensive Bill with 13 Key Parts
The preliminary draft is anchored in 13 substantive sections. It covers charges, licenses, fees, permits, general taxes, cess, market levies, plot and house rents, penalties for offences, as well as progressive tax waivers and reliefs. Importantly, the document also outlines savings, cessation clauses, and revenue designation frameworks to ensure accountability and transparency.
Nine key departments are featured, including Lands and Urban Development, Public Works, Agriculture, Education, Health, and Tourism—each tasked with modernizing service delivery through well-structured fees and charges.
Fair Charges, Reliefs and Incentives
The bill shows sensitivity to Siaya’s diverse economic realities. For instance, while annual inspections for petrol stations in towns will attract KSh 10,000, the fee in hardship areas has been set as low as KSh 2,500. Mortuary fees have been completely waived, a relief welcomed by residents during the Bondo sub-county deliberations.
Farmers stand to benefit significantly, with tractor ploughing services set at just KSh 800 per acre and sugarcane ploughing at KSh 1,800 per acre. “This is a big win for the agricultural community, which forms the backbone of our economy,” remarked one participant in Sakwa.
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