Kapenguria – In a move to incorporate citizen input into government fiscal planning, officials from the National Treasury and economic planning departments conducted a public participation forum in West Pokot County, targeting the medium-term budget for the financial years 2024-2025 to 2026-27.

According to Kenya News Agency, The forum, held at Mtelo Hall in Kapenguria town, aimed to facilitate a comprehensive collection of insights, challenges, and solution suggestions from local residents and stakeholders. Participants were encouraged to submit memoranda pertaining to the West Pokot County Fiscal Strategy Paper, a key document for consideration in the national government’s budget-making process.

In his opening remarks, West Pokot County Commissioner (CC) Apollo Okello underscored the importance of the budget as a critical tool for implementing government economic policies. He highlighted that the budget reflects collective priorities, shared values, and aspirations for a prosperous future. Okello also stressed the value of public participation forums as a commendable approach to democratic engagement, enabling citizens to actively contribute to shaping their future.

Emphasizing the significance of inclusivity in the participation process, Okello called for the involvement of marginalized and often unheard voices, ensuring a holistic representation of the county’s diverse population. He urged residents to actively participate and maintain respect for different viewpoints throughout the deliberations.

Highlighting the rarity of such forums in the past decade, Jacob Mumia, a planning officer from the State Department for Economic Planning, commended West Pokot residents for their proactive participation. Mumia acknowledged the potential for expanding these forums to even lower administrative levels and assured participants that their input would play a vital role in shaping future policies and budget allocations.