Enhancing Public Finance Management in Kenya – A JICA-Supported Initiative

The objective of last week’s workshop at Lake Naivasha Resort was clear: to strengthen the capacities of county Public Finance Management (PFM) officials in developing and implementing Programme-Based Budgets (PBB). Over 100 officers from across Kenya gathered to gain practical skills aimed at improving budget-making processes, ensuring effective monitoring, and aligning county resources with development priorities.

The workshop, organized by the Institute of Public Finance (IPF) and the National Treasury and Economic Planning with support from JICA Kenya, is part of a broader technical assistance programme to enhance financial management in decentralized systems. The training combined expert-led sessions with hands-on exercises, equipping participants to address real-world PFM challenges, including integrating public input and creating measurable progress indicators.

A key focus was on improving the use of Kenya’s Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS), specifically its County Plan to Budget Module. The session laid the groundwork for adopting the e-Government Procurement (e-GP) system, a technology set to streamline procurement processes, reduce costs, and increase transparency. Full implementation is expected by Q1 2025.

The workshop also highlighted sustainable practices like Climate Budget Tagging, which helps allocate resources to environmentally sustainable projects while improving accountability and access to climate finance. This approach aligns financial planning with long-term goals for climate resilience and development.

As the workshop concluded, participants left equipped with actionable skills and tools to transform public resource management in their counties. This initiative represents a significant step toward ensuring Kenya’s decentralized financial systems deliver better services and greater accountability for its citizens.