Embu, Narok and Wajir lead county fiscal performance but lack clear gender budgets

Embu, Narok, and Wajir secured Grade B in the 2024/25 financial year's County Fiscal Performance Measurement Index, but their budget records show inconsistencies and unclear tracking of funding for gender programs. Embu led with a score of 0.689, followed by Narok at 0.608 and Wajir at 0.605. The index assesses counties' budget management, development spending, own-source revenue, wages, pending bills, county assembly spending, and audit matters.

All three counties fund gender-related programs, but the reporting of allocation and expenditure varies. Embu has a gender mainstreaming and development sub-programme with Sh10.63 million allocated, spending Sh2.76 million of the recurrent allocation (90.7% absorption) and Sh5.29 million of the development allocation (69.7% absorption).

Narok reported a gender affairs and social services sub-programme with Sh21.86 million allocated, spending Sh14.89 million (68.12% absorption) and no development allocation shown. Wajir had a gender and social services sub-programme with Sh140 million allocated, spending Sh93.08 million of the recurrent allocation (67% absorption) and the full Sh1.2 million development allocation (100% absorption).

Embu and Narok lack separate gender budget lines, instead reporting gender-related figures under broader departments. Wajir's gender funding is under the education, youth, gender, and social services department. A report by the Council of Governors’ Gender Committee suggests counties establish well-resourced gender departments to comply with the Constitution and County Government Act, 2012.