2019/2020 county budgets to see improvement in public participation

2019/2020 county budgets are likely to see an improvement in public participation according to a report by International Budget Transparency. 

County Budget Transparency Report indicates that 30 counties have published their annual development plans as required by the Public Finance Management Act, a 20 percent increase from initial assessment in February.

Nonetheless, only Elgeyo Marakwet County published all the 7 budget documents for 2018/2019 financial year online for public scrutiny as required by law.

The Public Finance Management Act, 2012 among other things proposes publishing of key budget documents during the whole budget cycle to promote accountability.

The law requires an approved program based budget, citizen budget, an annual development plan, an outlook paper, the quarterly budget implementation reports for each financial year be made available to the public.

However, only Elegeyo Marakwet County has published all the 7 documents with rest publishing selected documents.

A report by the International Budget Partnership Kenya says Bomet, Garissa, Kirinyaga, Kisumu, Lamu, Migori, and Wajir, did not publish any of the budgetary documents that were under assessment.

So far only 30 counties have published the 2019/20 Annual Development Plans online while only 13 counties have published budgets in a simple understandable format for the public as prescribed by the law.

The report is advising county governments to regularly publish all key budget documents for the public effective public participation.