Bungoma County has officially adopted a Sh15.9 billion budget for the 2025/2026 financial year after Governor Kenneth Lusaka assented to the Appropriation Bill in a ceremony attended by senior county officials at his Kamukuywa residence. The budget is designed to accelerate inclusive development by channeling increased resources to key sectors including healthcare, infrastructure, education, and youth empowerment. During the signing, Speaker of the County Assembly Emmanuel Situma urged swift initiation of procurement processes to ensure the timely rollout of flagship projects, emphasizing transparency and public engagement as central to effective implementation.
The new budget follows months of scrutiny, public participation, and sectoral committee deliberations that saw the initial estimates adjusted upwards to incorporate additional allocations from development partners. According to County Assembly Clerk Charles Wafula, the fiscal plan meets Public Finance Management requirements, with development spending accounting for 32 percent of the total budget. Major projects earmarked for completion include the blood bank and radiology unit at Bungoma County Referral Hospital, a 100-bed maternity wing in Bumula, expansion of electricity access across 24 wards, and critical roadworks such as the Misikhu–Brigadier stretch. Despite these gains, Wafula warned that the county’s wage bill—now at 43 percent—remains above the recommended ceiling, calling for urgent structural reforms and improved revenue collection to safeguard future stability.
Leaders who attended the ceremony expressed confidence that the new financial framework would accelerate service delivery, noting enhanced allocations to ward development projects and renewed focus on vocational training and ECDE staffing. Deputy Speaker Stephen Wamalwa lauded the increase of ward project funds to Sh35 million per ward, saying it reflects the Assembly’s commitment to equitable growth. Looking ahead, county officials pledged closer collaboration between the Executive and the Assembly to ensure smooth implementation of this year’s plan, the adoption of modern budgeting systems such as Oracle Hyperion, and more strategic policy development for youth, women, and disability programs. They expressed optimism that the budget will unlock transformative development across Bungoma—provided fiscal discipline, oversight, and community participation remain at the heart of the county’s governance.