Trans Nzoia County has taken a bold step towards inclusive governance by engaging residents in the County Physical Strategy Paper (CPSP) for the 2025-2026 financial year. The public participation forum, held at the Museum Hall, provided a platform for citizens to voice their opinions on budget priorities.
The Residents of Trans Nzoia County on Friday gave their inputs on the County Physical Strategy Paper (CPSP) through a Public Participation exercise held at the Museum Hall.
This is a significant move towards inclusive governance, were the members of the public participated in the forum to discuss the County Physical Strategy Paper for the financial year 2025-2026. This initiative, spearheaded by the County Executive Committee (CEC) for Finance and Economic Planning, aims to align the county’s budget priorities with the needs and aspirations of its citizens.
Speaking during the Fora Dr. Joseph Pepela, the CEC for Finance and Economic Planning, emphasized the importance of public participation in the budget-making process. He highlighted that the Constitution of 2010 and the Public Finance Management Act of 2012 mandate the involvement of citizens in setting budget priorities. “This engagement ensures that the priorities laid out by the county are in sync with what the citizens of Trans-Nzoia require,” Dr. Pepela stated.
During the forum, county government officials and members of the public reviewed the budget for the upcoming financial year. They discussed the total amount of money set aside for development and recurrent expenditure, and identified priority areas for each sector. Citizens were encouraged to provide input on these priorities and suggest additional areas of focus.
Chief Officer for Finance, Masungo Emmanuel, reiterated the county’s commitment to fulfilling the constitutional requirement for public engagement in the budget-making process. He noted that the forum provided an opportunity for civic education on the priority areas in project implementation for the financial year 2024-2025.
Trans Nzoia County Budget Officer Ibrahim Telewa presented the County Physical Strategy Paper, outlining the financial plans for the next fiscal year adding that the Departments has prioritized their programs and activities as they set ceilings for both Development and Recurrent budgets for the approximate Kes 9.5 billion budget for the Financial Year 2025/2026.
The paper includes details on the national government’s equitable share, county own-source revenue, and funds from development partners such as Sweden, Germany, and the World Bank. The county anticipates receiving 7.899 billion shillings in the next financial year, with additional grants and loans amounting to 804 million shillings.
✅ Key Highlights from the Forum:
🔹 Dr. Joseph Pepela, CEC for Finance and Economic Planning, emphasized that public participation is a constitutional requirement under the 2010 Constitution and the Public Finance Management Act of 2012.
🔹 Masungo Emmanuel, Chief Officer for Finance, reaffirmed the county’s commitment to transparency in budget-making and educating residents on priority areas for the 2024-2025 implementation cycle.
🔹 Ibrahim Telewa, County Budget Officer, presented the KES 9.5 billion budget framework, outlining development and recurrent expenditure ceilings.
🔹 The county expects KES 7.899 billion from national government allocations, with grants and loans totaling KES 804 million from partners like Sweden, Germany, and the World Bank.
🔹 Citizen Reactions and Priorities
Residents welcomed the initiative, commending Governor George Natembeya and the finance team for aligning the budget with the county’s development needs.
✔️ Pradip Shah, a resident, praised the county’s commitment to infrastructure and economic growth.
✔️ Justina Siti, Gender Advisor to the Governor, stressed the importance of accountability in budget execution.
✔️ Boniface Wanjala, representing the business community, expressed optimism that public recommendations will be implemented, particularly in water, health, agriculture, and infrastructure.
📢 Why This Matters
The public participation forum in Trans Nzoia promotes transparency, accountability, and citizen-centered governance. By aligning budget priorities with residents’ needs, the county ensures efficient resource allocation and better service delivery.
