The Council of Governors (CoG), in partnership with Bajeti Hub, has launched the County Budget Transparency Survey (CBTS) 2025, revealing notable progress in budget openness across Kenya’s 47 counties, with no county scoring below 20 points on the overall transparency index.

In a statement shared in it’s X account on Thursday, June 04, 2026, during the launch, CoG officials said the survey is intended to strengthen accountability and promote greater public participation in county budgeting processes.

“The survey underscored the need for timely publication of budget information, stronger citizen budgets, and enhanced disclosure of capital projects to promote accountability and public participation,” CoG said.

The report highlights the need for counties to prioritise the timely publication of budget documents, improve the quality of citizen budgets, and expand disclosure of capital projects to enhance oversight and transparency.

According to the survey, while progress has been recorded across all counties, disparities still exist in how effectively budget information is communicated to residents, with some counties performing better in accessibility and clarity than others.

MoU to deepen reforms

The launch also marked the signing of a transformative Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Council of Governors and Bajeti Hub aimed at strengthening good governance, citizen engagement, and budget transparency across devolved units.

The partnership is expected to support counties in building stronger public finance systems, improving data availability, and enhancing tools that allow citizens to track development spending in real time.

Push for stronger public participation

The launch of the transparency report comes at a time when Parliament has intensified nationwide public participation on the Finance Bill 2026 and other key legislative proposals that will shape Kenya’s fiscal direction.

The Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning recently began public hearings in 13 counties, including Wajir, Kiambu, and Vihiga, as part of a constitutional requirement to collect citizens’ views before the bill is debated in the National Assembly.

In a public notice, Parliament said the exercise is aimed at ensuring that citizens directly influence tax policy, public spending, and economic planning decisions.

“Kamati ya Fedha na Mipango ya Kitaifa inaendelea na mpango wa kushirikisha umma kuhusu Mswada wa Fedha, 2026 katika kaunti mbalimbali,” Parliament stated.

The hearings are scheduled to run through June 8, 2026, with residents invited to submit oral and written memoranda on the proposed fiscal measures.

Push for open governance

Bajeti Hub officials said the initiative reflects a growing demand for open governance, where citizens can easily access and understand how public funds are being used.

They emphasized that budget transparency is key to reducing mistrust and improving service delivery across counties.

The survey is expected to serve as a reference point for future reforms as counties continue to strengthen fiscal accountability and deepen public participation in governance.