Civil society organisations in Bungoma have raised concerns over the proposed Sh16.7 billion county budget for the 2026–27 financial year.
They argue that key sectors such as health and agriculture have not been allocated sufficient resources.
Budget advocate Ezekiel Odeo said the proposed allocations could affect service delivery if they are not reviewed.
He spoke after a budget analysis forum attended by officials from the county Department of Health and Sanitation, civil society representatives and budget champions.
Odeo expressed concern over the Sh200 million earmarked for public health and primary healthcare, saying it may be insufficient to meet the growing demand for accessible and affordable healthcare services.
According to him, inadequate funding for primary healthcare could affect efforts to strengthen community health services, disease prevention programmes and the attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the county.
“The health of our communities will be at risk without adequate investment in health promotion, disease prevention and sanitation services,” Odeo said.
He said primary healthcare forms the foundation of an effective health system and argued that investments in community health, sanitation, immunisation and disease surveillance are essential to reducing pressure on hospitals and lowering healthcare costs.
The proposed county budget comprises Sh11.7 billion in recurrent expenditure and Sh5 billion in development expenditure, with the wage bill accounting for Sh7 billion.
Odeo also questioned the proposed allocation of Sh500 million to the agriculture sector, saying it may not be sufficient for a county whose economy largely depends on farming and agribusiness.
He said the sector continues to face challenges, including access to quality seeds and fertilisers, extension services, irrigation development, pest and disease control, value addition and market access.
“Underfunding the sector means limiting opportunities for food security, employment creation and household income growth. Increased investment in agriculture is necessary if the county is to achieve sustainable economic development,” he said.
Health activist Phelgona Odipo also raised concerns about what she described as a lack of clear expenditure coding in some of the proposed budget allocations.
She argued that the absence of specific budget codes and programme details could make it difficult for the public and oversight institutions to track expenditure and monitor implementation.
“While we appreciate the county’s efforts to allocate resources across key sectors, we are concerned that several budget provisions lack specific expenditure codes and clear programme details,” Odipo said.
“We urge the county government to assign specific budget codes to all allocations to promote transparency, prudent use of public resources and effective service delivery to residents,” Odipo said.
The concerns emerged during ongoing public discussions on the proposed budget as stakeholders continue to scrutinise spending priorities ahead of the new financial year.
