The Constitution of Kenya 2010 provides for two distinct and interdependent levels ofgovernment the national and the county governments. The Constitution article 220(2)makes it mandatory for every County to prepare Development Plans. The CountyGovernments Act, 2012 states that each county shall prepare a County IntegratedDevelopment Plan (CIDP) which shall be the basis for all budgeting and spending of publicfunds. In addition, every county government is expected to plan for the county and nopublic funds shall be appropriated outside a planning framework developed by the countyexecutive committee and approved by the county assembly. The county integrated planfocuses on economic, physical, social, environmental and spatial planning.According to the Public Finance Management Act, 2012 the budget process for countygovernments in any financial year shall begin with an integrated development planningprocess which shall include both long term and medium term planning which will in turninform the county budget estimates and establish financial and economic priorities for thecounty over the short, medium and long term. The purpose of the CIDPs is to providecomprehensive guidelines in budgeting, project funding, monitoring and evaluation of allthe projects for the next five years.The first CIDP for Embu County is a historical milestone. Apart from providingcomprehensive guidelines in project identification, implementation and evaluation, it alsofacilitates proper coordination with the national government and other stakeholders in orderto improve the well-being of the county citizens. In addition, the integrated developmentplanning framework formulated will enhance linkage between policy, planning andbudgeting.The projects and programmes in this CIDP were identified through various consultativeforums at the county level as provided for in the County Governments Act 2012. This wasdone through public participation forums which included electronic media sessions throughlocal radio programmes, MTP II consultations as well as those on the county Medium TermExpenditure Framework. At the beginning of every financial year, annual work plans will bedrawn to outline projects to be undertaken during that year.It is my expectation that increased participation by a wide cross section of the people duringidentification, planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of projects andprogrammes will empower the people of Embu to their realize social, political andeconomic development.

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