Vihiga: Vihiga County Assembly has concluded the interrogation of departmental budget estimates for the Financial Year 2026/2027, marking a key milestone in the county’s budget approval process aimed at ensuring accountability, transparency, and prudent use of public resources.
According to Kenya News Agency, the exercise was conducted through various sectoral committees of the Assembly, bringing together County Executive departments and independent county entities. These entities appeared before the committees to defend their proposed budget allocations and outline priority programmes and projects planned for implementation during the upcoming financial year.
The proposed Vihiga County Budget Estimates for the 2026/2027 financial year stand at Sh7.72 billion. The budget will be financed through Sh472 million in Own Source Revenue, Sh6.08 billion from the National Government Equitable Share, and Sh1.17 billion from Unconditional Grants.
During the interrogation sessions, Members of the County Assembly sitting in the various sectoral committees subjected departmental expenditure proposals to detailed scrutiny. This scrutiny aimed to ascertain whether the proposed allocations align with county development priorities, respond to residents’ needs, and guarantee value for money.
The committees also sought clarification on planned programmes, project implementation strategies, revenue projections, recurrent expenditure commitments, and development priorities across different departments.
Departments that appeared before the committees included the Office of the Governor, Health Services, Environment, Water, Energy and Natural Resources, Education, Technical and Vocational Training and Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE), Sports, Gender, Culture and Social Services, Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Physical Planning, Lands and Housing, Finance and Economic Planning, and the Department of Transport and Infrastructure.
Others were the Department of Commerce, Tourism and Cooperatives, Vihiga County Assembly, County Public Service Board, Department of Public Service Management and ICT, and the Office of the County Attorney.
Speaking during the exercise, members of the sectoral committees emphasized the importance of rigorous budget scrutiny in ensuring that public funds are allocated to programmes and projects that directly improve the welfare of residents while promoting sustainable development across the county.
The interrogation process also provided an opportunity for committee members to assess departmental performance, evaluate the feasibility of proposed projects, and identify areas where adjustments may be necessary to enhance service delivery.
The exercise comes shortly after the Assembly conducted public participation forums across the county, where residents submitted their views and priorities regarding the proposed budget estimates.
The Assembly is expected to incorporate both public views and committee recommendations before finalizing the budget approval process.
Following the completion of the departmental hearings, the sectoral committees are now expected to compile comprehensive reports detailing their observations, recommendations, and proposed adjustments to departmental allocations.
The reports will subsequently be submitted to the Budget and Appropriations Committee, which will consolidate the recommendations and prepare a final report for debate and consideration by the County Assembly.
Once approved by the Assembly, the budget will guide the implementation of county programmes and development projects for the Financial Year 2026/2027, with a focus on improving service delivery and addressing the socio-economic needs of the people of Vihiga County.
