Wajir County has recorded a significant milestone in public finance management, achieving one of the highest development expenditure absorption rates in the country. According to county officials, 83.4 percent of allocated development funds were effectively utilized in the past fiscal year, underscoring the administration’s commitment to delivering tangible infrastructure and service improvements. The announcement, made at a recent county assembly session attended by key government officials, signals the county’s growing capacity to implement its development agenda efficiently.
The achievement comes amid a series of strategic reforms and investments led by Governor Ahmed Abdullahi’s administration. Over the past year, Wajir has prioritized expanding access to clean water, upgrading health facilities including the Wajir Referral Hospital, and rehabilitating key roads to enhance connectivity across sub-counties. County authorities also launched initiatives to strengthen revenue collection, improve fiscal planning through the Fiscal Strategy Paper, and enforce transparency in budget execution. These efforts were complemented by capacity-building programs for county staff, aiming to ensure projects are delivered on time and meet quality standards.
The success has elicited positive responses from both residents and development partners, who see the high absorption rate as a sign of accountability and commitment to socio-economic growth. Local community leaders have praised the county for effectively using funds to address pressing needs, from water scarcity to education and health services. Looking ahead, officials emphasize that sustaining this momentum is critical, particularly in light of looming climate-related challenges such as droughts and floods. Plans are underway to integrate disaster resilience measures into future projects, ensuring that infrastructure and services remain robust in the face of environmental shocks. Analysts note that if these reforms continue, Wajir County could become a model for efficient development spending among Kenya’s devolved governments.