Open Letter Calls for Immediate Establishment of Uasin Gishu County Budget and Economic Forum
In a bold and urgent move, Peter Kibet Arap Biwott, also known as *Kiptilil Manamsim*, leader of the *Bunge La Wenyenchi Forum*, has issued a public open letter to Uasin Gishu Governor, Dr. Jonathan Chelilim Bii, demanding the immediate establishment of the **Uasin Gishu County Budget and Economic Forum**. The letter, which was made public today, comes in response to ongoing concerns about irregularities in the county’s budget-making process.
The Office of the Auditor General’s recent **2022/2023 report** highlighted **561 irregularities** in public participation during the county’s budget process. Of particular concern is the failure of the County Executive to set up the legally required **County Budget and Economic Forum**, which the Auditor General deemed a critical deficiency in the fiscal management of the county.
Under the **Public Finance Management Act, 2012**, specifically **Section 137**, it is a legal requirement for all county governments in Kenya to establish a Budget and Economic Forum to facilitate public consultation on budgetary and economic matters. This forum, according to the law, must include key representatives from different sectors of the county such as professionals, business leaders, labor groups, persons with disabilities, women, the elderly, and faith-based organizations. Additionally, the Governor must act as the chairperson of this forum.
In his letter to Governor Bii, Kiptilil Manamsim strongly criticized the County Executive for what he termed “statutory negligence” that undermines the principles of transparency, accountability, and public participation in county governance. The absence of the forum, he argued, has not only resulted in significant irregularities but also the potential misuse of public funds, as highlighted in the Auditor General’s findings.
Kiptilil’s letter pointed out that the lack of a properly constituted Budget and Economic Forum is not just a legal failing, but a failure of governance. “This statutory neglect deprives the people of Uasin Gishu of their constitutional right to be consulted on the decisions that affect their lives. Without proper consultation, there is a risk that development plans will be mismanaged, leading to inefficiency and financial misallocation,” he said.
The open letter further states that if the **County Budget and Economic Forum** is not established within **30 days**, by **7th December 2024**, he will mobilize **600 members of the public**, with at least **20 members from each of the county’s 30 wards**, to file a petition to the **Controller of Budget**. The petition will also be copied to the **Senate of the Republic of Kenya** to request a suspension of the current county budget, to prevent further irregularities in the fiscal process for the **2024/2025 financial year**.
“We will not sit idly by while the future of Uasin Gishu County is jeopardized by poor governance and failure to follow the law,” Kiptilil declared. “If the Governor does not act, we will ensure that the public’s voice is heard and that our resources are not mismanaged. The people of Uasin Gishu deserve transparency, accountability, and the right to actively shape their future,” he added.
The letter also warns that failure to comply with the law may lead to legal consequences for the Governor and other county officials, who could be held liable for the ongoing mismanagement of county resources. Kiptilil emphasized that the absence of the Budget and Economic Forum renders current development plans and budgets illegal and irregular, putting the county’s progress at risk.
Kiptilil Manamsim’s letter has reignited public debate about the state of governance and accountability in Uasin Gishu County. His call for action highlights the growing frustration among residents who feel excluded from the county’s decision-making processes.
As of now, Governor Dr. Jonathan Chelilim Bii has not issued a public response to the open letter. However, the pressure on his administration to address the legal and financial shortcomings outlined in the letter is expected to intensify in the coming weeks.
This move by the *Bunge La Wenyenchi Forum* is the latest in a series of public demands for greater transparency and accountability in local governance, and it remains to be seen how the County Executive will respond to avert further public outcry.
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