A report recently launched by the International Budget Partnership Kenya (IBPK) on County Budget Transparency reveals that county governments are becoming more transparent.
The County Budget Transparency Survey is a subnational survey collaboratively undertaken by IBPK with more than 24 budget facilitators spread across 36 counties in Kenya. The survey assesses the budget information publicly available on the official county Executive and Assembly websites and the level of comprehensiveness of specific information contained in the published budget documents. According to the report, the average county transparency index (score) was 41 out of 100 points, an improvement from 33 and 35 out of 100 points in County Budget Transparency Survey 2020 and 2021, respectively.
Even as the county governments show efforts to publish more budget information as required by the Public Finance Management Act, 2012 and the subsequent legislation, the question remains: Is this translating to a more informed citizenry and better services?