The National Treasury has rolled out a comprehensive capacity-building programme aimed at equipping county governments with essential skills in economic planning to enhance coordination and integration between county and national development plans.
Speaking during the launch in Busia on Tuesday, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi said the initiative is part of ongoing reforms to ensure an evidence-based and harmonized approach to national development. He emphasized the importance of strengthening linkages between both levels of government to promote efficient resource allocation and implementation.
“We want to correct the planning process to achieve integrated plans between the county and national levels. We need evidence-based balance, and this cannot be achieved without clear and accurate planning,” Mbadi stated. “We must train our officers in data capture and ensure that monitoring and evaluation frameworks are in place to guarantee value for money in public spending.”
The CS noted that the Treasury is transitioning from a system characterized by public sector dominance to one that strategically facilitates and encourages private sector participation. “This is a necessity. With rapid urban growth and rising financial constraints, we must adopt alternative strategies. Infrastructure provision must now be a shared responsibility, a genuine partnership between the public and private sectors,” he said.
Mbadi highlighted the lack of standardized investment conditions across counties as a major impediment to attracting private partnerships. “This inconsistency creates uncertainty and discourages project financing. We are therefore proposing an efficient, standardized negotiation framework integrated into the planning approval process to diversify infrastructure delivery methods,” he added.
According to the CS, the goal of the proposed integrated planning approval system is to create a predictable, transparent, and equitable framework for infrastructure cost distribution, which in turn will attract private investors. “The role of the private sector is no longer supplementary. It is central to enhancing efficiency, accelerating project delivery, and improving community living standards,” he emphasized.
Mbadi further called on county governments to embrace privatization models that can bring financial relief and operational efficiency. “The current national financial system is failing our continent. Private capital remains largely inaccessible for transformational projects, our domestic financial markets are underdeveloped, and sovereign debt levels are unsustainable for many countries,” he observed.
He underscored the need for catalytic interventions to unlock private investments, particularly in emerging sectors such as the green economy. “Energy transition presents a major opportunity for large-scale private investment. We must also promote adaptive finance models that reduce dependence on public funds, support small and growing businesses to create jobs, stimulate innovation, and ensure sustainable debt management to address the high cost of capital,” said Mbadi.
The CS also emphasized the development of new carbon markets as a key strategy to build sustainable revenue models. “We must develop innovative financing approaches to strengthen our resilience and create long-term economic sustainability,” he added.
Busia County Deputy Governor Arthur Odera lauded the initiative and called for simplification of planning frameworks to ensure inclusivity and better understanding at all levels. “We need accurate data and more skills at the grassroots to enable counties to plan effectively. Our plans must be meaningful and accessible to people who are not economists,” he said.
The programme, spearheaded by the Treasury, is expected to be rolled out in all 47 counties as part of a broader agenda to enhance fiscal responsibility, promote accountability, and drive inclusive development.
By Salome Alwanda and Rodgers Omondi
