The County Government of Uasin Gishu, through the Department of Finance and Economic Planning, has officially launched the Sector Working Groups (SWGs), marking the beginning of a critical phase in the preparation of the 2026/2027 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) budget.

Speaking during the launch, the County Executive Committee Member for Finance and Economic Planning, Micah Rogony, described the exercise as “the most important process as outlined in the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act.” He noted that the establishment of the Sector Working Groups lays the foundation for evidence-based budgeting and ensures alignment with the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP).

The county operates under six MTEF sectors: Administration and Governance; Infrastructure and ICT; Agriculture, Rural and Urban Development; General Economic and Commercial Affairs; Health; and Education and Social Protection.

Mr. Rogony urged all sectors to prioritize key and ongoing programmes, emphasizing the importance of action-oriented recommendations that promote the completion of existing projects before initiating new ones.

“Let us focus on completing the projects we have started. Our recommendations as sectors should be realistic, practical, and geared towards tangible results,” he stated.

Chief Officer for Economic Planning, Nixon Cheplong, encouraged teams to align their plans with Nguzo Kumi—the ten pillars guiding Governor Dr. Jonathan Bii’s development agenda. He described the process as “an educative series of give and take,” underscoring the importance of collaboration and mutual learning among departments.

Director of Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Charles Ruto, outlined the reporting framework, urging sectors to generate reports in the standard format, which includes: background information, mission and vision statements, detailed performance analysis, classification-based reviews, and assessments of capital projects and pending bills—with completion levels presented in percentage terms.

He further emphasized that accountants will play a key role in providing accurate financial details of specific projects to enhance transparency and accountability.

Director of Finance, CPA Martin Mutai, called on all sectors to provide a summary of their indicative sector ceilings for the approved FY 2025/2026 budget to ensure coherence between planning and resource allocation.

The launch sets the stage for a participatory and transparent budget-making process that aligns sector priorities with the county’s development vision, anchored on Governor Dr. Jonathan Bii’s Nguzo Kumi agenda.

Notable attendees included Chief Officers, Directors, Deputy Directors, Assistant Directors, and staff from various county departments.