Civil society organisations in Bungoma County have opposed the proposed Sh16.7 billion budget for the 2026/27 financial year accusing the county government of underfunding the health sector and failing to prioritise primary healthcare services.
Bungoma County assembly budget and appropriation chairperson who is also Khasoko ward MCA said the budget will be tabled on Tuesday and debated on Wednesday.
The groups argue that the allocations to public health and primary healthcare (PHC) are inadequate and could undermine ongoing efforts to strengthen community health services, disease prevention programmes and the attainment of universal health coverage (UHC) across the county.
Speaking to the press after a budget analysis forum attended by officials from the County department of health and sanitation, civil society representatives and budget champions, budget expert Ezekiel Odeo said the proposed allocations to public health and PHC fall far below what is required to address the healthcare needs of residents.
Odeo revealed that less than Sh200 million has been earmarked for public health and primary healthcare a move he warned could expose residents to preventable diseases and weaken health promotion interventions at the grassroots level.
“The proposed budget towards public health and primary healthcare (PHC) is below Sh200 million. That is a huge challenge to our people because without investing adequately in health promotion, disease prevention and sanitation services, the health of our communities will be at risk,” Odeo argued.
He noted that primary healthcare remains the foundation of an effective health system, emphasizing that investments in community health, sanitation, immunization and disease surveillance are critical in reducing the burden on hospitals and lowering healthcare costs.
Odeo further appealed to the Bungoma County Government to fast-track the implementation of the Community Health Promoters (CHPs) law saying the legislation would provide a clear framework for the recruitment, management and remuneration of community health workers who serve as the first point of contact between communities and the healthcare system.
“I urge the County government of Bungoma to move with speed and implement this law because we cannot predict what health challenges may arise tomorrow. Community Health Promoters play a very critical role in strengthening primary healthcare services,” he said.
He blamed the county government for delays in the payment of stipends to Community Health Promoters, saying the situation has negatively affected morale and service delivery at the community level.
“The reason why CHP stipends continue to delay is because we do not have a law that clearly guides their engagement with the county government. The county should establish a dedicated fund to ensure timely payment and support for these frontline health workers,” Odeo stated.
The budget expert also decried the allocation of less than Sh500 million to the agriculture sector, terming it insufficient for a county whose economy is largely dependent on farming and agribusiness.
He argued that the funding falls short of addressing key challenges facing farmers, including access to quality seeds and fertilisers, extension services, irrigation development, pest and disease control, value addition and market linkages.
“Agriculture remains the backbone of Bungoma’s economy. Underfunding the sector means limiting opportunities for food security, employment creation and household income growth. Increased investment in agriculture is necessary if the county is to achieve sustainable economic development,” he said.
Odeo further called on members of the County Assembly to scrutinize the proposed budget and push for increased allocations to sectors that directly impact the welfare of residents.
“As we expect the County Assembly to table and debate this budget, we urge members to prioritise areas that have received low allocations. During the supplementary budget process, public health and primary healthcare should be given special consideration because these are services that directly affect locals,” he said.
He revealed that budget documents indicate that nearly 70 per cent of the proposed budget has been allocated to recurrent expenditure, with salaries alone consuming approximately Sh7 billion while development expenditure has been allocated about Sh5 billion.
Odeo argues that the imbalance between recurrent and development spending could hinder the county’s ability to implement transformative projects and improve service delivery.
“If this is the final budget structure, it will be difficult for the county to implement meaningful development projects. More resources should be directed towards development programmes that have a direct impact on residents,” he noted.
Health activist Phelgona Odipo also poked holes in the proposed budget faulting what she described as inadequate budget detailing and lack of clear expenditure coding in several allocations.
She argued that the absence of specific budget codes could make it difficult for the public and oversight institutions to track expenditure and monitor implementation of programmes.
“While we appreciate the county’s efforts to allocate resources across key sectors, we are concerned that several budget provisions lack specific expenditure codes and clear programme details. Without proper coding, it becomes difficult to track spending and ensure accountability. We urge the county government to assign specific budget codes to all allocations to promote transparency, prudent use of public resources and effective service delivery to residents,” she stated.
