County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Treasury, Peter Mwikya Kilonzo, popularly known as Tangawizi, led the Public Participation Forum on the Draft Annual Budget Estimates for the Financial Year 2025/2026. Held at KEFRI in Kitui Town, the forum brought together a diverse group of stakeholders including local residents, government officials, development partners, and private sector representatives. Tangawizi emphasized that public input is vital to crafting a budget that is inclusive, transparent, and aligned with the priorities of Kitui citizens.
During his remarks, Tangawizi underlined that the forum adhered to Article 201 of the Constitution and Section 125(2) of the Public Finance Management Act, which mandate public involvement in budget-making processes. He reaffirmed the county government’s commitment to equitable resource distribution, enhanced service delivery, and sustainable economic development. The draft budget was prepared in line with key policy documents, including the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP), the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), and national fiscal guidelines.
The CECM noted that the draft budget will go through several layers of scrutiny before final approval. These include review by the County Budget and Economic Forum, endorsement by the County Executive, and eventual deliberation and adoption by the County Assembly. He credited public feedback from the County Fiscal Strategy Paper forum held in February 2025 as instrumental in shaping the current draft. This participatory process is designed to ensure that every resident of Kitui has a voice in how public funds are planned and spent.
The total proposed budget for FY 2025/2026 is Sh13.7 billion. Tangawizi spotlighted that Sh4.4 billion—equivalent to 32% of the total—has been allocated for development, exceeding the constitutional minimum of 30%. Key revenue sources include Sh11.38 billion from the national equitable share, Sh1.07 billion in local revenue, and Sh1.29 billion from grants. Health and Sanitation emerged as the top-funded sector, receiving Sh4.042 billion, a move that reflects the county’s strong focus on improving healthcare systems and honoring Governor Julius Malombe’s pledge to deliver quality health services to Kitui residents.
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