The Ministry of Local Government is seeking a total of 65.2 billion Shillings to enhance service delivery and improve the efficiency of local government leaders in monitoring government programs.
local government
The Ministry of Local Government is seeking 65.2 billion Shillings to enhance service delivery and improve the efficiency of local
government leaders in monitoring government programs.
The request, presented by Ben Kumumanya, Permanent
Secretary of the Ministry, was made during a session with Parliament's Local
Government Committee. He appeared before the committee on Tuesday to discuss the
Ministry's 2025/26 National Budget Framework Paper.
Of the requested funds, 35.2 billion is earmarked
for the procurement of modest vehicles for 176 Local Council V (LCV)
Chairpersons and Mayors. According to Kumumanya, the vehicles will facilitate
the leaders’ mobility and efficiency in overseeing government programs.
“These vehicles are critical for enabling our leaders
to move across their districts and municipalities to monitor projects and
ensure proper service delivery. This investment will translate into better
outcomes for our citizens,” Kumumanya said.
Additionally, the Ministry is seeking 30 billion Shillings to
support the monitoring and implementation of the Parish Development Model
(PDM). The PDM is a flagship government program aimed at uplifting the economic
conditions of local communities by addressing issues such as poverty and
unemployment at the parish level.
Kumumanya emphasized that effective monitoring of the
PDM is crucial to achieving its objectives. “Without adequate resources for
supervision, the impact of the PDM may be compromised. We need these funds to
ensure every parish is effectively covered and the program's goals are met,” he
explained.
The Ministry’s proposal comes amid concerns about the
capacity of local governments to implement and monitor critical programs due to
logistical and financial challenges.
Members of Parliament have called for transparency
and accountability in the utilization of the requested funds to ensure they
deliver tangible benefits to communities.