By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 19 June 2026 - As his second and final constitutional term enters its closing phase, Kisumu Governor Prof. Peter Anyang' Nyong'o has thrown his political weight behind the county's 2026/27 Budget Estimates, urging Members of the County Assembly to use the spending plan to cement what he described as a legacy of transformative development.
Appearing before the County Assembly's Budget and Appropriations Committee, Nyong'o framed the proposed budget as more than an annual fiscal exercise. He portrayed it as the final opportunity to complete flagship projects that have defined his administration's development agenda.
"This is the last budget I will be implementing as Governor and I am keen to ensure that we deliver on the promises we made to our people," Nyong'o told the committee chaired by Kondele MCA Joachim Oketch.
His appeal comes as counties across Kenya face growing pressure to balance ambitious development programmes with tightening fiscal space, delayed disbursements from the National Treasury and the persistent challenge of mobilising adequate own-source revenue.
For Kisumu, the stakes are particularly high. The lakeside city has positioned itself as western Kenya's commercial, health, education and logistics hub, while simultaneously investing in infrastructure, urban renewal, healthcare, industrialisation and the emerging blue economy around Lake Victoria. The forthcoming budget will determine whether those long-term investments gather further momentum or slow under fiscal constraints.
Nyong'o argued that the county had laid a strong development foundation over the past decade through close collaboration between the Executive and the County Assembly.
He credited the Assembly, under the leadership of Speaker Elisha Jack Oraro, for providing legislative support that enabled the implementation of key projects.
"The many achievements we have made could not have been possible if we lacked the support of the County Assembly," the Governor said, urging legislators to prioritise high-impact projects capable of delivering measurable economic and social returns.
Yet the discussions also exposed the financial realities confronting devolved governments.
Speaker Oraro cautioned that the county's development ambitions would only be realised if Kisumu significantly improves collection of own-source revenue.
"As a county, we cannot implement all these programmes if we don't collect enough money in own-source revenue," he said.
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The remarks highlight one of the biggest structural challenges facing county governments more than a decade after devolution. While counties continue to expand service delivery and infrastructure programmes, many remain heavily dependent on equitable share allocations from the national government, leaving them vulnerable to cash flow disruptions whenever transfers are delayed.
For investors and development partners, strengthening local revenue collection is increasingly viewed as critical to improving fiscal sustainability, enhancing public service delivery and creating predictable financing for infrastructure projects.
The Budget and Appropriations Committee is currently scrutinising departmental expenditure proposals while incorporating recommendations gathered during public participation forums. The process is expected to shape the final spending priorities before the budget is tabled for approval.
Economic analysts say the final budget will offer an important indication of Kisumu's development trajectory in Nyong'o's final year in office. Decisions on infrastructure, healthcare, water, agriculture, urban development and blue economy investments will determine whether the county consolidates recent gains while laying the groundwork for the next administration.
Beyond politics, the Governor's appearance reflected a broader question confronting devolved governance in Kenya: whether county governments can convert limited financial resources into long-term economic transformation.
Nyong'o was accompanied by First Lady Dorothy Nyong'o, County Executive Committee Member for Finance and Economic Planning George Okong'o and senior county officials, underscoring the importance his administration attaches to what could become the defining budget of his tenure.
For the Governor, the 2026/27 financial plan is not merely about balancing revenues and expenditure. It is about ensuring that the investments made over the past decade leave behind lasting institutions, modern infrastructure and a stronger economic foundation capable of sustaining Kisumu's growth well beyond his time in office.
Nyong'o Pins Legacy on Final Budget as Kisumu Weighs Growth Against Revenue Reality
Kisumu Governor urges MCAs to prioritise high-impact projects capable of delivering measurable economic and social returns.