The governing woes in Siaya County found new clarity on Tuesday, December 9, when Governor James Orengo addressed residents’ rising concern over stalled development projects and placed the blame squarely on delayed national treasury disbursements rather than local mismanagement.
Delivering his Annual State of the County Address, Orengo acknowledged widespread frustration among constituents over minimal visible progress on several flagship initiatives. But he insisted the root problem lies far from county hall.
“We have no control over when the Treasury releases money or when the Controller of Budget approves expenditure,” he said, explaining that until those funds arrive, even fully-funded projects remain on hold.
According to the governor, Siaya’s county assembly had already appropriated resources for major developments and laid out a comprehensive schedule months ago. In effect, he argued, it is the national financial bottleneck not poor planning or misuse that is creating the impression of inefficiency at the county level.
Backing the governor’s claims but warning against complacency the county’s Assembly Speaker George Okode added nuance to the conversation by pointing out other areas where the county must sharpen its delivery.
Okode flagged staff welfare, noting that many county employees have long been owed daily subsistence allowances. He praised the administration for prioritizing payment of these dues.
But deeper structural problems remain. Several staff members have been serving in acting capacities for prolonged periods, lacking stable contracts. Okode said the county is committed to filling these gaps: a panel has already been struck to recruit new members to the Public Service Board and appoint a full-time Chief Executive Officer.
Of particular urgency, he said, is the staffing of the health sector especially after a September purge in which 382 health-sector workers were dismissed following findings of irregular hiring. Only 120 of over 500 were deemed legitimate. Filling those vacancies and ensuring proper staffing remains a priority to prevent further disruption of services.
Balancing Blame with Reform
In his remarks, Governor Orengo struck a careful tone acknowledging local frustration, while insisting that the delays are beyond county control. By doing so, he accepted some political heat while also offering a clear explanation rooted in national-level constraints.
At the same time, the Speaker’s commentary underscores that, even amid external funding delays, county leaders are aware of and working on internal shortcomings: unpaid allowances, unstable employment, and vacant administrative posts.
For residents of Siaya who have felt promised projects fade into inactivity, the dual message offers a mixture of reassurance and realism: yes, cash flow matters but so does internal reform.
As the county moves forward, the big question remains whether the national treasury will release funds in time, and whether local reforms will translate into reliable service delivery.
