By Samson Wire
Siaya County has witnessed a surge of civic engagement as week two of public participation forums on the 2026/27 County Fiscal Strategy Paper (CFSP) climaxes, with residents across all 30 wards and three municipalities turning out in large numbers to approve proposals, flag gaps, and demand accountability.
The ongoing forums, spearheaded by the County Government of Siaya and supported by County Treasury officials, have drawn praise for vibrant, issue-based discussions that are setting the tone for participatory budgeting. The draft CFSP outlines proposed budget ceilings for ward-based development projects and municipality-level priorities, guided by population indices, accessibility, and development needs in line with the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act, 2012.
Across the county, residents are scrutinizing both ongoing and proposed projects, weighing whether allocations reflect their real aspirations or require reallocation to more urgent priorities. The process has been largely hailed as inclusive, transparent, and consultative.
Strong Voices from the Wards
In Alego Usonga, public participation at Mwer Chief’s Camp attracted residents from sub-locations including Komenya, Kowala, Gengu Kabura, Uhunyi Kaugagi, Udenda Kaugagi, Hawainga, Kalkada, Uradi, Kodiere, and Uranga. Participants applauded several allocations while urging the county to prioritize the most pressing, people-centred projects.
West Gem residents emphasized the need for strict project implementation and close supervision to prevent duplication of allocations, while in North Uyoma, a well-attended forum at Ndigwa Chief’s Camp saw County Officer Mr. Wanyama take participants through the draft proposals. Most received positive feedback, accompanied by firm calls for adherence to implementation timelines, proper supervision, and timely payments.
In East Yimbo, residents converged at Nyamonye with enthusiasm, expressing confidence that projects captured in the draft CFSP would be implemented without alterations.
Education, Health, and Accountability Take Centre Stage
In Ukwala Ward, Ugenya Sub-County, parents and education stakeholders called for prudent utilization of the Sh2 million allocated to Draho ECD, while seeking alignment with allocations captured in the 2025/26 fiscal year.
North Gem recorded strong participation from eight sub-locations—Maliera, Nyabende, Ndere, Got Regea, Malanga, Sirembe, Ludha, and Asayi—with residents pushing for equitable allocations, better project management, and enhanced civic education. They demanded settlement of outstanding payments, including for Musembe ECD, and sought reallocation of funds initially earmarked for Mutumbu Market to more urgent needs. Calls were also made for funding a 10,000-litre water tank for Sirandu Dispensary to ensure reliable water supply.
To support skills development, residents urged the county to provide raw materials to Kisendo Youth Polytechnic to enable bed manufacturing as a value chain. Farmers called for capacity-building on livestock breeds and rearing skills before any distribution programmes, underscoring the constitutional principle of equitable resource sharing.
In West Alego, the process proceeded smoothly, with residents approving most proposals without major changes.
Meanwhile, in Rarieda, particularly South Uyoma Ward, health and education dominated discussions in Naya and Lieta sub-locations. Key priorities included fencing, staffing, and gate installation at Naya Health Centre; equipping and commissioning Ndonyo ECD centres in Mirau, Ranyala, and Naza; drilling a borehole at Naya Secondary School; grading the Lieta–Malanga road; establishing an ECD centre at Lwenya Primary School; and equipping Agok and Lieta health centres to improve universal healthcare access.
Once public participation concludes in the coming days, the County Treasury—under the guidance of Acting CEC for Finance and Economic Planning, George Nyingiro—will retreat to consolidate views from all 30 wards and the three municipalities into a final report. This will be submitted to the County Assembly Budget and Appropriations Committee, chaired by Sylvester Madialo with Susan Okwirry, by 14 February. The full Assembly is expected to debate and consider the CFSP by 28 February, in line with Section 117 of the Public Finance Management Act, 2012.
Thereafter, the National Treasury will gazette the final policy, forming the backbone of the 2026/27 budget estimates. County departments, led by their accounting officers, will then prepare sectoral budgets to ensure prudent, transparent, and impactful use of public resources.
As Siaya’s residents have demonstrated, public participation is no longer a formality—it is the engine shaping the county’s development agenda.
