The Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) has directed county governments to release documents on their budgets to the public at least two weeks before they are formally discussed by a select group of area leaders.
The new guidelines are intended to ensure that the public is not caught flat footed as has been the case in the past when many county governments issue a notice only a day to the meeting. The budget proposals to be discussed under the auspices of the County Budget and Economic Forum (CBEF), which is supposed to coordinate and collect views from the public during the budgeting process in addition to functioning as a think-tank for the county governments in terms of financial and economic management.
As a think-tank, the CBEF is intended to assist a county government in analyzing and identifying priority spending areas as they budget for programmes, and improve coordination between citizens and government during project implementation. The forum for expanded public participation in county budget making will enable residents to have more say in where funds are allocated. “In organizing public consultations, the forum shall cooperate with the County Assembly as far as possible to avoid unnecessary conflict. The resolutions of CBEF shall be documented and made available to the public within seven days of any meeting or activity,” the guidelines issued by CRA chairman Mr Micah Cheserem read in part.
The CBEF’s composition is made up of the governor as its chairman, other members of the county executive committee and other representatives who are not members of the county government but are of equal number to the county officials in the forum. The other representatives are nominated by various organizations representing interests of professionals, business, labour, women, persons with disabilities, the elderly and faith-based groups at county level.
“The non-state members of the forum have a responsibility to regularly engage with their constituents, both through sharing information from the forum, and representing the interests of constituencies within the forum,” the guidelines state. Some 19 counties, according to CRA risk delays in receiving their funding allocations from the National Treasury after failing to comply with rules governing budget ceiling as laid out under the law.
Under the guidelines, counties are supposed to discuss county priorities to inform major plans by September 1 of any year. These include long-term integrated development plans and sector plans. By February 28 every year, the forum is expected to have discussed overall estimates of revenue, spending, deficit and the ceilings for each sector.
Sector priorities as reflected in the county’s budget estimates are expected to be discussed by the end of April. In mid-June, the public discussion will centre on the budget proposals tabled by the county governments.
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