By Samson Wire
From wards to municipalities, residents get a rare chance to decide where the money goes.
The County Government of Siaya has rolled out an ambitious countywide public participation drive on the 2025/26 County Fiscal Strategy Paper (CFSP), signaling a decisive push toward inclusive, transparent and people-driven budgeting.
Led by the Department of Finance and Economic Planning, the exercise is being conducted in strict compliance with Section 117 of the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act, 2012, which requires counties to seek public input before finalizing their fiscal blueprints. Public forums are currently underway across all 30 wards and the three municipalities of Siaya, Bondo and Ugunja, giving residents a direct voice in how resources will be shared in the next financial year.
Often described as the financial compass of county government, the CFSP is a critical policy document that sets out Siaya’s medium-term fiscal and economic direction. It outlines broad strategic priorities, policy goals and spending limits, and provides guidance for preparing the annual budget in a way that promotes fiscal discipline, prudent resource management and value for money.
Crucially, the CFSP operationalizes constitutional requirements on public participation, ensuring that development priorities reflect the real needs and aspirations of wananchi—rather than being decided behind closed doors.
The 2025/26 CFSP is anchored on five key functions:
1. Public Engagement – Structured public participation forums across the 30 wards and three municipalities.
2. Fiscal Framework – Setting expenditure ceilings and revenue projections to guide budgeting.
3. Strategic Guidance – Aligning county spending with long-term development priorities.
4. Economic Outlook – Assessing local and national economic trends that affect county finances.
5. Legal and Constitutional Compliance – Ensuring adherence to constitutional principles and national fiscal policies.
Before the CFSP becomes official policy, it must pass through a clearly defined four-stage legal process. First is the ongoing public participation. The document is then prepared by the County Treasury and submitted to the Siaya County Assembly. Lawmakers debate, amend and approve it before the final version is published in the Kenya Gazette, giving it legal force.
Once adopted, the CFSP becomes the foundation upon which the 2025/26 county budget is built—effectively translating public priorities into funded services and development projects.
County officials are urging residents to actively participate, submit memoranda and attend forums, emphasizing that the CFSP is not just a technical document, but a social contract between the government and the people of Siaya.
As the consultations continue, one message is clear: in Siaya, the road to the 2025/26 budget is being paved with public voices, fiscal responsibility and constitutional accountability.
