Policy Brief No. 74 of 2018-2019 on An Assessment of the Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability in West Pokot County

Abstract

The Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) assessment was carried out in the County of West Pokot and five other counties, namely: Nakuru, Kajiado, Makueni, Kakamega and Baringo. The exercise was undertaken by KIPPRA in conjunction with the World Bank (Kenya Office) in 2017. This was the first sub-national PEFA assessment carried out in Kenya following the advent of the devolved system of government. The rationale for the PEFA assessment is to provide a clear and deeper understanding about the functioning of the PFM system and the organizational aspects of existing institutions at county level. The main objectives of the assessment include: i) assess the state of financial management capacity in the county government; ii) identify gaps in terms of capacity, systems, policies and processes in PFM; iii) provide a basis for PFM reforms; and iv) facilitate and develop a self-assessment capacity at the county level. The assessment covered a period of three (3) fiscal years, 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16. It focused on seven (7) key pillars of the PEFA framework, namely: (i) budget reliability; (ii) comprehensiveness and transparency; (iii) management of assets and liabilities; (iv) policy-based fiscal strategy and budgeting; (v) predictability and control in budget execution; (vi) accounting and reporting; and (vii) external scrutiny and audit.