Siaya Governor Blames National Treasury for Stalled County Projects, Amid Internal Staffing Crisis
Siaya Governor James Orengo has pointed to delayed disbursements from the National Treasury as the primary cause of stalled major county projects, pushing back against allegations of local mismanagement.
The governor’s remarks came on Tuesday, December 9, shortly after he delivered the Annual State of the County Address, where he acknowledged concerns from residents over visibly slow progress on flagship initiatives.
“We have no control over when the Treasury releases money or when the Controller of Budget approves expenditure,” Orengo explained in a televised interview. He emphasized that all major projects had been fully funded through county assembly appropriations and that “nothing had been abandoned.”
According to Orengo, the financial bottleneck at the national level has created a false impression of inefficiency within the county, despite Siaya having prepared its development schedule months in advance.
Speaker Highlights Internal Administrative Challenges
However, Siaya County Assembly Speaker George Okode offered a complementary perspective, urging the county to urgently tackle several internal administrative issues that are also impacting service delivery.
Okode stressed that staff welfare remains a critical concern, starting with the payment of outstanding daily subsistence allowances owed to county employees—a matter he said the governor has prioritized.
The Speaker also addressed the prolonged issue of staff serving in acting capacities, noting that the county plans to regularize these positions and provide stable, formal contracts. He commended Orengo for establishing a panel to fast-track the recruitment of new Public Service Board members and to fill the vacant CEO position.
Healthcare Staffing Crisis Following Fraudulent Hiring
Okode’s call for administrative reform comes in the wake of a significant healthcare staffing crisis. In September, 382 healthcare sector employees were dismissed after a vetting process revealed that only 120 out of more than 500 hired were legitimately recruited. The Speaker stated that Siaya must urgently address these staffing gaps to prevent further disruptions in healthcare services.
The situation underscores the broader tension faced by devolved units in Kenya: managing internal capacity and integrity while navigating dependency on national treasury flows. As Siaya residents await movement on promised projects, the county leadership is grappling with challenges on both financial and managerial fronts.
Governor Orengo is pictured during a meeting with the National Irrigation Authority on August 19, 2025, to fast-track the operationalization of the Lower Nzia Irrigation Scheme.
