Kenya: The government of Kenya is promoting open and transparent governance for the people. They have invited the people of Kenya to share their opinions and insights on the upcoming 2024-25 budget. The government has started collecting citizen views and priorities for the upcoming budget and the medium-term planning process.
Principal Secretary of the State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni, led one of these public participation initiatives. Muthoni is an important member of the Kenya Ministry of Health and has played a significant role in many of their initiatives.
She hosted a public participation initiative in Tharaka Nithi County. The session brought together representatives from all five sub-counties in Tharaka Nithi County. These stakeholders, the Ministry of Health, and the National Treasury hosted a fruitful dialogue.
The discussions which took place between the attendants of the initiative span across essential sectors, encompassing healthcare, agriculture, education, culture, and more.
This collaborative endeavor aligns with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) of the government. The initiative makes sure that the budget genuinely mirrors the community’s requirements for a cost-effective and impactful future. The annual budget of Kenya for the financial year 2024-25 will be officially announced in June 2024.
The Ministry of Health in the government of Kenya shared some glimpses from the public participation initiative in Tharaka Nithi County. The people of the county turned up in large numbers to provide their input in the next budget of Kenya.
With more than half a year to go, the government has plenty of time to reflect and take into account the needs and requirements of the people. The common people of the country will be able to give their feedback to the government.
Additionally, the government wants to ensure that budget can give funds to the areas that need help. Getting the opinion of the common person, aware of the realities of the ground, is a step in the direction of inclusivity.