ADVERT 
ADVERTBarely a month into office, Siaya County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Finance and Economic Planning, CPA Dan Ochieng Okoth, has signalled a potentially significant shift in the management of the county’s finances, promising tighter fiscal discipline, greater accountability and faster implementation of development programmes.
Addressing departmental accountants during a high-level meeting, Okoth challenged the County Treasury’s financial management team to embrace reforms designed to improve budget execution, strengthen transparency and ensure that public resources translate into tangible services for residents.
The new Finance CECM said the reforms would be anchored on timely and results-oriented financial management, with a particular focus on supporting implementation of the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) and Annual Development Plans (ADPs).
His message to the accountants was unequivocal: they must see themselves not merely as custodians of financial records, but as critical guardians of public resources.
«“Always cultivate servant leadership, guard against financial improprieties and misallocations, and above all, be ready for the changes envisaged,” Okoth told the officers.»
ADVERTOkoth brings considerable experience within the county administration to the Treasury, having previously served as Chief Officer for Water and held various responsibilities under the previous administration.
His immediate challenge, however, is to translate that institutional experience into measurable improvements in the county’s financial operations at a time when efficient budget implementation, timely payments and value for money remain central to public confidence in devolved government.
The CECM pledged that the county would adhere strictly to policy guidelines and legal requirements governing the budget-making and implementation process. He said greater compliance would help streamline financial operations and facilitate timely processing of payments, including employees’ salaries.
He also underscored the constitutional and statutory foundations of county financial management, noting that the budget process is anchored in the 2010 Constitution and operationalised through the Public Finance Management Act, 2012.
Public participation, he noted, remains a critical component of the process, requiring the inclusion of different segments of society, including women, men, youth and persons with disabilities.
Beyond budgeting, Okoth identified audit, procurement, monitoring and evaluation as other critical pillars of responsible financial management.
The department is expected to work within the constitutional framework governing oversight by the Auditor-General, while complying with the Public Finance Management Act and the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015.
Particular emphasis was placed on monitoring and evaluation, with Okoth promising to strengthen mechanisms for tracking projects and assessing whether government expenditure is producing the intended outcomes.
«“I will ensure there is value for money in all government projects,” he said.»
The pledge places project implementation and procurement under renewed scrutiny, especially given that the effectiveness of county governments is ultimately judged less by the size of their budgets than by what those budgets deliver on the ground.
Okoth also stressed the need for sound tendering procedures and timely payments to workers, linking effective financial administration directly to uninterrupted service delivery.
On concerns surrounding delayed salaries, the CECM attributed the delays to ongoing legislative processes, which he described as lawful. He assured county employees that the outstanding issues had been addressed and that the county was awaiting the release of the Exchequer.
The meeting brought together key Treasury officials, including Director of Finance Christine Okoth, Director of Revenue Services Moses Keya, Head of Treasury Geoffrey Odhiambo, Deputy Finance Director Cornel Odhiambo, departmental accountants and administrators.
For Siaya residents, the real test of the new Finance CECM’s reform agenda will ultimately lie beyond policy pronouncements. It will be measured by whether the County Treasury can improve budget absorption, reduce payment delays, strengthen revenue management, minimise financial irregularities and ensure that approved development programmes are delivered efficiently.
With just a year remaining before the 2027 General Election, the performance of the Treasury could therefore become one of the most consequential measures of the county administration’s ability to convert public resources into visible and sustainable development.
