Migori County has been ranked among Kenya’s least transparent devolved units after posting a dismal performance in the 2025 County Budget Transparency Survey (CBTS), raising fresh concerns over public accountability, citizen participation, and oversight of billions of shillings allocated to the county government.
The survey, released by Bajeti Hub, awarded Migori County a score of just 36 out of 100, placing it in the “D” performance category and among the four worst-performing counties nationally. Only Marsabit, which scored 24 points, and a handful of other counties performed worse, while the national average stood at 65 points.
The findings represent a significant setback for the county, which scored 53 points in the 2024 survey. The 17-point drop is among the sharpest declines recorded nationwide and reflects growing weaknesses in the publication, accessibility, and quality of budget information available to the public.
According to the report, Migori was among only three counties in Kenya that failed to publish any of the ten key budget documents within the required timelines during the 2024/2025 financial year. The county tied with Homa Bay and Marsabit in recording a zero score for timeliness, a critical measure that determines whether citizens receive budget information early enough to participate meaningfully in decision-making processes.
Budget transparency experts warn that delayed publication of financial documents undermines constitutional requirements for public participation and weakens citizens’ ability to hold government officials accountable.
While Migori managed to publish five of the ten mandatory budget documents, the figure pales in comparison to twenty counties that successfully published all required documents during the review period.
The survey paints an even more troubling picture when it comes to the quality of information contained in the documents that were made public.
Migori’s County Quarterly Budget Implementation Report scored a mere two points out of 100, the lowest score nationally for that document. The report notes that the county provided almost no meaningful information regarding expenditure, project implementation, or performance outcomes.
In contrast, Makueni County achieved a perfect score of 100 points in the same category, highlighting the vast gulf between the country’s best and worst performers.
The County Budget Review and Outlook Paper, another crucial accountability document, scored zero points, indicating that residents were denied access to important information on budget performance and future fiscal planning.
Migori’s Citizen Budget, a simplified document intended to help ordinary wananchi understand government spending priorities, scored 46 points, while the Approved Programme-Based Budget achieved 53 points, one of the few areas where the county performed close to the national average.
The survey further revealed glaring shortcomings in public participation and project disclosure.
Migori scored zero out of 100 points in public participation feedback, meaning there was no evidence showing how views collected from residents influenced final budget decisions. The county also scored zero points on disclosure of capital projects, failing to provide details such as project locations, costs, implementation timelines, and progress reports.
Governance experts say such information is essential for enabling residents to track development projects and assess whether public resources are delivering value for money.
The lack of transparency on capital projects is particularly significant in a county where residents continue to demand improvements in road infrastructure, healthcare facilities, water projects, and agricultural investments.
The survey findings mean that Migori residents have limited avenues for tracking how public funds are spent and whether development promises made by county leaders are being fulfilled. Without comprehensive implementation reports, citizens cannot verify whether approved projects are underway or whether allocated funds have been utilized as intended.
The report notes that although timeliness remains a national challenge—with only 23 percent of required budget documents published on time across Kenya—Migori’s collapse in document comprehensiveness suggests deeper institutional and governance shortcomings.
However, the survey also points to opportunities for reform.
Counties such as Isiolo, Nyandarua, and Trans Nzoia recorded some of the most dramatic improvements in transparency scores after enhancing document publication and public disclosure practices. Isiolo improved by 28 points, Nyandarua by 24 points, and Trans Nzoia by 21 points, demonstrating that rapid progress is achievable with strong administrative commitment and political goodwill.
To reverse the downward trend, Bajeti Hub recommends that Migori County urgently publish all ten mandatory budget documents within statutory timelines, improve the quality of Quarterly Budget Implementation Reports, disclose detailed information on development projects, and establish clear mechanisms for reporting how public participation influences budget decisions.
As scrutiny over county spending intensifies across the country, Migori’s poor showing is likely to renew calls for greater transparency and accountability within devolved governments.
For thousands of residents seeking answers on how public resources are utilized, the report serves as a stark reminder that access to budget information remains a cornerstone of good governance, public trust, and effective service delivery.
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