The government will take into account recommendations made by members of the public during the ongoing countrywide participation in the formulation of the 2024-2025 and 2026-2027 Medium Term Budget. State Department for Micro, Medium, and Small Enterprises (MMSE) Principal Secretary Susan Mang’eni said that the views being collected countrywide from key stakeholders and members of the public will help the national government prioritise its development agenda in line with the wishes of the people. In a speech read on her behalf by the Western Regional Commissioner, Irungu Macharia, during public participation held at Magharibi Hall in Kakamega town, the PS said the participatory process was key in helping the government have homegrown solutions to issues affecting residents as well as enhancing greater ownership of the programmes and projects identified. She said the process is vital in ensuring that the public holds the government to account as well as helping foster transparency in the use of public funds. Participants drawn from across the county presented their views in nine key sectors, among them agriculture, health, the blue economy, and ICT, among others. On matters concerning health, the residents pointed out that lack of drugs and inadequate equipment is a challenge to health institutions in the county. They urged the national government to allocate more funds for buying adequate and essential drugs in public health institutions. They also called on the national government to purchase enough machines and hospital equipment and employ qualified personnel to operate the machines. Moreover, they wanted the national government to allow their National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to cover all medical test services, including private hospitals, and that the charges be regulated. The Regional Commissioner, on the other hand, appealed to the residents to support the government by ensuring they pay their taxes.

Source: Kenya News Agency