The County Integrated Development Plan: Your Blueprint for County Growth

Introduction

Every five years, across all 47 counties in Kenya, a critical process unfolds. Government officials, community members, business leaders, and civil society organizations come together to answer a fundamental question: Where should our county be in five years, and how will we get there?

The answer to this question is documented in a County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) —the master blueprint that guides every shilling spent and every project undertaken by county governments . This isn’t just another government document gathering dust on a shelf. It’s a legally mandated framework that transforms campaign promises into tangible roads, functioning hospitals, and clean water points.

Whether you’re a county official, a development professional, a business owner looking to invest, or simply a citizen who wants to understand where your county is heading, understanding the CIDP is essential. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore what a County Integrated Development Plan is, how it’s created, what it contains, and why it matters for every resident.

What Is a County Integrated Development Plan?

A County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) is the core five-year development strategy for each of Kenya’s 47 county governments . It serves as the supreme planning document that integrates all other plans—sector plans, spatial plans, urban plans—into one cohesive roadmap.

The Legal Foundation

The CIDP isn’t optional. It’s firmly anchored in Kenyan law:

• County Government Act 2012, Section 104(1) : Requires every county government to plan for the county and establishes that “no public funds shall be appropriated without a planning framework developed by the county executive committee and approved by the county assembly”

• Section 102(h) : Mandates counties to prepare five-year CIDPs

• Section 107(2) : The CIDP “shall be the basis for all the budgeting and planning in a county”

• Public Finance Management Act, 2012, Section 126: Reinforces the CIDP as the overall guide in the budget-making process

In essence, no CIDP means no budget. This legal teeth ensures that counties cannot simply spend money arbitrarily—every expenditure must trace back to the priorities established in the plan.

What Makes It “Integrated”?

The word “integrated” is crucial. A CIDP doesn’t exist in isolation. It connects:

Upstream (what feeds into the CIDP):

• Kenya Vision 2030 (national long-term development blueprint)

• National government plans and programs

• The Governor’s manifesto (campaign promises)

• County long-term strategic plans

• County spatial plans (land use)

• Sector plans (health, agriculture, roads, etc.)

• Urban plans for municipalities within the county

• Review of the previous CIDP’s performance

Downstream (what flows from the CIDP):

• Departmental strategic plans

• Annual Development Plans (ADPs)

• Annual budgets

• Annual work plans

The Five-Year Cycle: Generations of CIDPs

Since devolution began in 2013, counties have developed multiple generations of CIDPs, each building on the lessons of the previous one.

• 1st Generation (2013-2017) : The foundational plans that established initial priorities as counties found their footing

• 2nd Generation (2018-2022) : Refined plans incorporating lessons learned and addressing emerging challenges

• 3rd Generation (2023-2027) : Current plans aligned with the national Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and Kenya Vision 2030’s 4th Medium-Term Plan

This five-year cycle aligns with the electoral calendar, typically developed shortly after a new governor takes office. As one governor explained, the CIDP provides “a development roadmap for the next five-year period, with the implementation process starting in July” following elections .

How a CIDP Is Developed: The People-Driven Process

Creating a CIDP isn’t a desk exercise performed by a few planners in a county headquarters. Legally and practically, it requires extensive public participation.

The Participatory Approach

Section 104 of the County Government Act obligates counties to “promote public participation and engagement by nonstate actors in the planning units” . This means the process must actively involve:

• Community members (including women, youth, and marginalized groups)

• Persons with disabilities

• Business leaders and investors

• Civil society organizations

• Professional associations

• Development partners

Village-to-Village Engagement

Some counties have developed innovative approaches to ensure genuine participation. Homa Bay County, for example, implemented a “Village-to-Village Public Participation Model” for their 2023-2027 CIDP .

As the county website describes: “The administration has implemented various public consultation meetings and forums, starting from the village level up to the sub-county level. This has given residents a platform to share their views and concerns, building consensus on the county’s development direction” .

This bottom-up approach represents a significant shift from the past, where planning was often top-down. As one Homa Bay resident noted, “The inclusion of diverse perspectives has led to a CIDP that is more reflective of the needs and priorities of the people” .

From Sectors to Draft

The technical process typically begins with sectoral planning. Nairobi County’s approach illustrates this: “The ADP process commenced with sectoral planning, where sectors prioritized their programs, aligning with the flagship projects outlined in H.E. Governor Sakaja Johnson’s manifesto and the CIDP 2023-2028” .

Economic planning officers then consolidate these sector priorities into a draft document, which undergoes review before public validation and eventual submission to the County Assembly for approval .

Key Components of a County Integrated Development Plan

What actually goes into a CIDP? While specific content varies by county, all CIDPs follow a similar structure based on legal requirements and planning best practices.

1. County Background and Context

Every CIDP begins with a comprehensive profile of the county, including:

• Location, size, and physiographic conditions

• Demographic profiles (population size, distribution, and characteristics)

• Administrative and political units

• Infrastructure and access

• Land use patterns

• Economic activities (crop, livestock, fish production)

• Forestry, environment, and climate conditions

• Tourism potential

• Employment and income sources

• Health, education, water, and sanitation status

This baseline data establishes where the county currently stands—essential for measuring progress later.

2. Development Priorities and Strategies

The core of the CIDP identifies what the county aims to achieve over five years. These priorities typically span multiple sectors:

3. Flagship Projects

Governors often embed their signature initiatives in the CIDP. For example, Nairobi’s 2023-2028 CIDP includes “flagship projects outlined in H.E. Governor Sakaja Johnson’s manifesto” . These high-visibility projects typically receive priority funding and attention.

4. Resource Requirements and Financing

A critical section of any CIDP is the financial plan. Counties must estimate the resources needed to implement all programs and projects. Kajiado County’s 2023-2027 CIDP, for instance, identified total resource requirements of Sh133.6 billion—far exceeding projected revenues of Sh64.5 billion, creating a resource gap of Sh71.4 billion .

This gap highlights the importance of:

• Realistic prioritization

• Exploring alternative financing sources (development partners, public-private partnerships)

• Clear strategies for resource mobilization

5. Alignment with National and Global Frameworks

Modern CIDPs don’t exist in a vacuum. They must demonstrate alignment with:

• Kenya Vision 2030 (national long-term vision) and its Medium-Term Plans

• The government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA)

• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• International commitments like the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Sendai Framework for disaster risk reduction

This alignment ensures that county-level efforts contribute to national and global progress.

From Plan to Action: The CIDP Implementation Chain

A plan is only as good as its implementation. The CIDP feeds into a cascade of documents that translate strategy into action.

Annual Development Plans (ADPs)

Each year, counties prepare an Annual Development Plan that extracts one year’s worth of activities from the five-year CIDP. As Nairobi County explains: “The ADP sustains the pace of implementation of the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) while optimizing the investment of public resources” .

The ADP is “a precursor to budget formulation and implementation,” directly contributing to “guiding county development” . By law, counties must submit their ADP to the County Assembly by 1st September each year .

The Annual Budget

Once the ADP is approved, the county treasury prepares the annual budget, allocating funds to the programs and projects identified in the ADP. This is where planning meets financial reality—and where resource gaps become painfully apparent.

Departmental Work Plans

Finally, each county department develops detailed work plans that guide day-to-day implementation. This is where projects actually happen: roads are built, nurses are hired, water points are drilled.

Challenges in CIDP Development and Implementation

Despite the robust legal framework, counties face significant challenges in making their CIDPs work.

1. Technical Capacity Gaps

The Association of Consulting Engineers of Kenya (ACEK) has highlighted a critical issue: many counties develop CIDPs “without the input of the professionals” . As a result, “most of the projects are not subjected to the steps outlined in the Public Investment Management Guidelines” .

The solution, according to ACEK Chairman Eng. Patrick Wambulwa, is partnership with registered professionals and employment of qualified engineers to “oversee the implementation of infrastructure projects” .

2. Resource Constraints

The gap between ambitious plans and available resources is a recurring theme. Kajiado’s Sh71.4 billion gap is not unique. Counties often plan based on aspirations rather than realistic revenue projections, leading to unfunded priorities and stalled projects.

3. Implementation Gaps

As Nairobi’s Economic Planning Chief Officer noted, “In the past, there has been a worry that there is a detachment between the ADP and the end result, which is the budget” . When plans don’t connect to budgets, and budgets don’t connect to actual implementation, citizens lose faith in the planning process.

4. Political Transitions

CIDPs are tied to five-year political cycles. When a new governor takes office, there’s often pressure to abandon previous plans in favor of new priorities—even if those plans were legally approved and partially implemented.

5. Project Identification and Selection

“Devolved units [fail] to identify the right projects, a scenario which has seen public resources channeled into investments that have no impact on the locals” . Without proper feasibility studies and community input, projects may be politically motivated rather than needs-based.

Success Stories: When CIDPs Work

Despite challenges, many counties are demonstrating the power of effective planning.

Homa Bay’s Inclusive Approach

Homa Bay County’s village-to-village participation model shows what’s possible when counties genuinely engage citizens. By starting consultations at the village level, the county ensured that “residents’ voices are heard in the development of the county” . This approach builds ownership and ensures projects reflect real community needs.

Mombasa’s Generational Planning

Mombasa County has successfully developed three consecutive CIDPs (2013-2017, 2018-2023, 2023-2027), demonstrating institutional memory and continuous improvement. Each plan builds on lessons from previous ones, creating a coherent development trajectory rather than starting from scratch every five years .

Kajiado’s Comprehensive Achievements

Despite resource challenges, Kajiado County documented significant achievements under its 2018-2022 CIDP, including:

• Construction of water pans for domestic use, farming, and livestock

• Investment in a county spatial plan and digital land management system

• Enhanced urban management in three municipalities

• Road construction in urban areas

• Market infrastructure development

• Increased access to clean water through boreholes and spring protection

• Healthcare improvements including personnel recruitment

• Over Sh100 million annually in scholarships and bursaries

The Future: CIDPs and Smart Cities

As Kenya urbanizes, CIDPs are increasingly being called upon to address the complexities of city management. A 2024 discussion paper from the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) highlights the role of CIDPs in creating “smart and sustainable cities” .

The paper recommends that “county governments need to fast-track the implementation of the new CIDPs to provide more resources to fund digital literacy, and information awareness initiatives and provide caring community facilities to cater for the needs of vulnerable individuals” .

This points to an evolving role for CIDPs—not just as infrastructure plans, but as comprehensive strategies for building inclusive, technologically-enabled urban centers.

What Citizens Should Know About Their County’s CIDP

As a resident of your county, the CIDP affects your life in tangible ways. Here’s what you should know:

Your Right to Participate

The law guarantees your right to participate in CIDP development. When your county announces public participation forums, attend them. This is your opportunity to influence which projects move forward and how resources are allocated.

Where to Find the CIDP

All county governments are required to make their CIDPs publicly available. Check your county’s official website or visit the county headquarters. The Devolution Toolkit website also provides resources and guidance .

How to Track Progress

Once the CIDP is approved, track whether the county is delivering on its promises. Annual budgets and development plans should clearly connect to CIDP priorities. If they don’t, ask questions. Hold your county assembly representatives accountable for oversight.

Key Questions to Ask

• Are the projects in this year’s budget actually in the CIDP?

• How much of last year’s CIDP budget was actually spent?

• What projects were completed, and what impact are they having?

• Were communities consulted in identifying these priorities?

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is a CIDP valid?

A CIDP is valid for five years, typically aligned with the county government’s term following elections .

Is the CIDP legally binding?

Yes. Section 104(1) of the County Government Act prohibits appropriation of public funds “without a planning framework developed by the county executive committee and approved by the county assembly” . The CIDP is that framework.

How does the CIDP relate to the annual budget?

The CIDP guides the five-year strategic direction. Each year, the county prepares an Annual Development Plan (ADP) that extracts one year’s priorities from the CIDP. The annual budget is then based on that ADP .

Can the CIDP be changed mid-term?

While major changes are discouraged (as this undermines planning), counties can review and adjust their CIDPs through a formal process involving public participation and county assembly approval.

Do all counties have CIDPs?

Yes, all 47 counties are required by law to maintain a current CIDP. The third generation (2023-2027) is now in effect across the country.

How can I participate in CIDP development?

Watch for announcements from your county government about public participation forums. These are typically advertised in local media, on county websites, and through community leaders. Attend and share your views.

Conclusion: The Power of Planning

The County Integrated Development Plan is far more than a bureaucratic requirement—it’s the bridge between a county’s aspirations and its achievements. When done well, a CIDP transforms campaign slogans into measurable outcomes: kilometers of road paved, children vaccinated, farmers supported, businesses enabled.

For citizens, understanding the CIDP means understanding where your county is headed—and having the tools to hold your leaders accountable along the way. For county officials, the CIDP provides the legal and strategic foundation for every decision, ensuring that resources flow to genuine priorities rather than political whims.

As Kenya’s devolution journey continues, the quality of CIDPs—and the commitment to implementing them—will increasingly determine whether counties become engines of prosperity or warehouses of unfulfilled promises.