Kilifi County has emerged as the leader in allocating available funds toward development in the Financial Year (FY) 2024/25, dedicating 53.4% of its total budget to development projects. This figure significantly surpasses the national average of 35.6%, highlighting Kilifi’s strong commitment to driving local development and addressing the needs of its residents.
Following closely behind Kilifi, Siaya and Turkana counties have allocated 44.5% and 43.9% of their budgets to development, respectively, underscoring their ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure and public services. Other counties making notable strides include Kwale (42.6%), Trans Nzoia (42.3%), and Lamu (41.7%), which have similarly dedicated substantial portions of their budgets to development projects.
Mandera, Laikipia, Tana River, and Uasin Gishu are also among the top performers, each allocating between 39.0% and 39.9% of their budgets to development. These counties are prioritizing long-term investments in areas such as health, education, infrastructure, and local economic growth.
While these counties are leading in development fund allocation, other counties across the country are also making efforts to increase their budget allocations for development. However, many counties still face challenges in reaching the national average of 35.6%, particularly those with limited resources or higher dependency on the national government.
For example, some counties in the northern and arid regions, where infrastructure and services are limited, have had to allocate a larger portion of their budgets to meeting basic needs, such as food security and water supply. These counties, while working to improve development allocations, are often constrained by the demands of these essential services.
The continued focus on development in these counties is expected to improve public infrastructure, expand social services, and support sustainable economic growth. It reflects a growing recognition that investing in development is crucial for the long-term prosperity of local communities and the country as a whole.
As the government and county authorities work together to ensure equitable development, there is optimism that more counties will increase their allocations to development projects in future fiscal years.
byronian4@gmail.com
About the Author
