Experts want budget watchdogs

The controller of budget Ms Agnes Odhiambo in this file picture. Budget experts have called for strong watchdog bodies at the county level to ensure devolution succeeds. PHOTO/FILE  NATION

In Summary

• During one of the presentations, the budget experts indicated that counties face a number of challenges in budgeting this year due to a tight time schedule, inadequate support from the national government and limited capacity.

By James Ngunjiri
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Budget experts have called for strong watchdog bodies at the county level to ensure devolution succeeds.

Such agencies would ensure people’s input is captured in county budgets.

Speaking at the weekend in Nyeri Town after the conclusion of a week-long training for journalists on devolution, the experts from International Budget Partnership Team (IBP) said there were few watchdog bodies that are able to monitor how county governments run their budgets.

IBP Team Kenya Coordinator Jason Lakin said the watchdog role can only be played effectively by a knowledgeable media, county assemblies and citizens.

“We are trying to build the capacity of journalists and other agencies so they are able to scrutinise budget documents, the approval process and the various reports that come out during the budget cycle which is a continuous process,” Dr Lakin said.

Challenges

During one of the presentations, the budget experts indicated that counties face a number of challenges in budgeting this year due to a tight time schedule, inadequate support from the national government and limited capacity.

“Our goal is not to point fingers or assign blame, but to encourage learning as we go into the next budget cycle. It is only through understanding what did not work in this most recent process that we can ensure a better process going forward,” the IBP team country coordinator said.

IBP in partnership with Twaweza Communications and Media Council of Kenya are conducting training forums across the country to help educate journalists.

The training session, which started last September, have led to the training of several journalists from Coast, Eastern and Central regions on devolution and the process of budget making across all levels of governments.

At the same time, counties were urged to present other budget documents in a simple and transparent manner.

“The public and the county assemblies should also access and review the county Budgets Review and Outlook Paper, the County Fiscal Strategy Paper and quarterly budget implementation reports,” the IBP Team said.

Counties, they said, should also consider producing citizens budgets as the national government has done for the last several years to highlight key areas in the budget.

County residents and officials in various counties were further urged to join hands and discuss how they would like budget information to be presented