MIGORI, Kenya – Senator Eddy Oketch of Migori County has called on the national government to raise the budgetary allocation for counties from the current Sh391 billion to Sh450 billion. This increase, he argues, is essential for the effective execution of county-level projects and will significantly contribute to the economic transformation of Migori County.

According to Kenya News Agency, who spoke to residents of Rongo Sub County during his ongoing tour to oversee county developmental projects, the additional funds would enable Migori County to receive about Sh20 billion. This boost in funding is seen as crucial for advancing the county’s development agenda and addressing the needs of its residents. The senator emphasized the Senate’s commitment to advocating for more resources for counties to ensure they can fulfill their roles effectively.

The national government’s current allocation to counties stands at Sh391 billion, an increase of Sh6 billion from the previous figure of Sh385.4 billion. Under this allocation, Migori County is slated to receive approximately Sh10 billion. Oketch highlighted that upon the Senate’s reconvening in February, a key priority would be to lobby for increased financial allocations to counties.

During his oversight tour, Oketch noted that a significant concern among county residents was the state of Early Childhood Education (ECDE). Migori County has made strides in constructing 144 ECDE classrooms, with the majority already completed. However, the senator identified several areas in need of investment to enhance the ECDE program, including improvements in the feeding program, sanitation facilities, and access to learning materials.

Senator Oketch also referenced a bill he sponsored in the last Senate session that proposed raising the minimum wage for ECDE teachers to at least Sh30,000. This move aims to address the issue of inadequate compensation for ECD teachers, who currently face a challenging workload. He pointed out the disparity in the teacher-to-pupil ratio in ECDE centers in Migori County, which stands at 1:80, compared to the more favorable ratio of 1:16 found in other contexts.

Oketch stressed the importance of a solid foundation for children, stating, “A good foundation for your children is a good foundation for our society, and therefore, as a senate, we will make sure we fight for additional county resources to enable the counties to implement noble projects like issues of ECD.”