Vihiga: Vihiga County has concluded a two-day countywide public participation exercise on the Finance Bill 2025, aimed at gathering citizen feedback on proposed revenue measures. The forum, organised by the Department of Finance and Economic Planning through its Directorate of Revenue, sought to align county fiscal policy with the views and priorities of residents, in line with the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 and the Public Finance Management Act, 2012.
According to Kenya News Agency, Director of Revenue Mr George Omusula underscored the significance of public input in shaping the county's fiscal framework. 'Our goal is to ensure residents have a say in the fiscal policies that affect their daily lives. Their insights will guide more informed decisions and ultimately benefit the community,' he said.
Residents and stakeholders from all six sub-counties-Emuhaya, Luanda, Vihiga, Sabatia, Tiriki East, and Tiriki West-actively took part in reviewing the draft bill, suggesting amendments and sharing perspectives on proposed own-source revenue streams. Participants welcomed the initiative, noting that such engagement fosters transparency and accountability. 'It's a great opportunity for us to communicate our needs and priorities directly to decision-makers,' remarked a Sabatia resident during the discussions.
To ensure inclusivity, the draft bill remains accessible online at www.vihiga.go.ke, with residents encouraged to submit their views via [email protected]. The input collected will inform the final draft to be presented to the County Assembly for debate and possible adoption. County officials expressed optimism that the resulting Finance Act will better reflect the aspirations and needs of the people of Vihiga.