Speaker of the Senate Amason Jeffah Kingi has officially launched the County Fiscal Performance Measurement Index (CFPMI), describing it as a landmark tool that will strengthen fiscal oversight, improve accountability and enhance the management of public resources across Kenya’s 47 counties.
Speaking during the launch, Kingi said the publication marks another milestone for the Fourth Senate and reflects its commitment to strengthening devolution through evidence-based oversight. He commended the Parliamentary Budget Office, Senate management, senators and technical experts whose contributions made the development of the index possible.
“The CFPMI is more than a publication. It provides a practical framework for assessing county governments’ compliance with the fiscal responsibility principles set out in the Constitution, the Public Finance Management Act and the County Governments Act,” Kingi said.
The Speaker noted that the index addresses a longstanding gap in Kenya’s devolved governance by providing an objective and scientific framework for measuring county fiscal performance.
He said the Senate has, until now, lacked a standardised mechanism for evaluating how county governments perform against key public finance management indicators despite its constitutional mandate to determine the equitable allocation of nationally raised revenue.
According to Kingi, the index will enable the Senate to assess counties using measurable indicators such as budget implementation efficiency, development expenditure, own-source revenue collection, absorption rates and audit outcomes.
“The Index will enable the Senate to benchmark counties using measurable indicators, including budget implementation efficiency, development expenditure, own-source revenue collection, absorption rates and audit outcomes,” he said.
The Speaker clarified that the objective of the index is not to rank counties or create competition, but to identify best practices, highlight areas requiring improvement and assess whether public resources are translating into meaningful development for citizens.
He said the publication strengthens the Senate’s oversight role under Article 96 of the Constitution by providing credible evidence to safeguard national revenue allocated to county governments.
Kingi added that the launch forms part of the Fourth Senate’s broader strategy to build institutional knowledge and preserve parliamentary memory. He highlighted several publications produced by the Senate over the past four years, including the Annotated Senate Standing Orders, studies on revenue allocation, impeachment processes and legislative mediation, the Senate Digest of Law and Practice, and the Manual on Procedures and Rules.
He said the publications have positioned the Senate as a producer of authoritative reference materials that will continue supporting legislators, parliamentary staff, county assemblies, researchers and other stakeholders interested in Kenya’s devolution framework.
Reflecting on the Senate’s achievements since 2022, Kingi noted that the equitable share allocated to county governments had increased from Sh370 billion in the 2022/2023 financial year to Sh428 billion in the 2026/2027 financial year, describing the growth as evidence of the Senate’s commitment to strengthening devolution.
He also cited the enactment of the County Public Finance Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025, which granted county assemblies direct financial autonomy from county executive governors, as a key reform that has strengthened oversight and accountability at the county level.
The Speaker further pointed to initiatives such as Senate Mashinani, the Devolution Conference and the Legislative Summit as important platforms that have enhanced collaboration between the Senate and county governments.
While welcoming the increased funding to counties, Kingi stressed that higher allocations must be accompanied by stronger accountability and prudent management of public resources.
He reaffirmed the Senate’s commitment to ensuring that every shilling allocated to county governments is spent lawfully, efficiently and for the benefit of Kenyans through robust oversight by its committees.
Kingi expressed confidence that the County Fiscal Performance Measurement Index would become an important tool for promoting sound fiscal governance, strengthening accountability and improving oversight across Kenya’s devolved units.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
