ADVERT 
By Samson Wire
Siaya County has been recognized for its growing commitment to budget transparency, public participation and accountable management of public resources after emerging as the county with the Most Comprehensive Finance Act 2025.
The recognition came during a working visit by Bajeti Hub representatives Paul Odongo and Charles Olwamba, who engaged the County Government of Siaya on integrity, citizen oversight and fiscal transparency in public financial management.
The visit also provided an opportunity for the dissemination of the County Budget Transparency Survey (CBTS), an initiative that assesses the accessibility and quality of county budget information while promoting greater citizen involvement in public finance processes.
The award was received by Geoffrey Odhiambo, Head of Treasury, on behalf of the County Executive Committee Member for Finance and Economic Planning.
The recognition marks an important milestone for Siaya as the county continues to strengthen systems designed to make public financial information more accessible, timely and useful to residents.
At the heart of the achievement is the county’s progress in the timely publication of financial information, improved public access to budget documents and meaningful citizen participation in public financial management.
These measures are increasingly important in strengthening public trust and enabling residents to follow how county resources are planned, allocated and spent.
The engagement with Bajeti Hub also underscored the growing importance of independent citizen oversight in county governance. Access to clear and timely budget information gives residents, civil society organizations and other stakeholders a stronger basis to interrogate government priorities and hold public institutions accountable.
For Siaya, the recognition of its 2025 Finance Act provides an endorsement of efforts to improve fiscal openness while setting a higher benchmark for future budget and financial management processes.
The county’s achievement comes at a time when transparency and public participation remain central to Kenya’s devolved system of government, with citizens increasingly demanding greater openness over the use of public funds.
The working visit therefore served not only as a recognition of progress already made, but also as a reminder that sustaining fiscal transparency requires continuous improvement, stronger citizen engagement and consistent disclosure of public financial information.
With the Most Comprehensive Finance Act 2025 recognition, Siaya has placed itself among counties demonstrating that effective devolution is not only about spending public resources, but also about ensuring citizens can access information, participate in decisions and scrutinize how those resources are managed.
