Kwale Locals Caution County Government Against Ignoring Grassroots Projects As Budget Preparations Start
He challenged locals to verify whether their priorities appear in the final development plan and to follow up once allocations are made to ensure execution.
Photo: Courtesy.
By Robert Mutasi
Residents of Kwale County have cautioned the county administration against sidelining development projects identified by locals as public review for the 2027/2028 budget gets underway.
The residents, drawn from all the 77 village units across the county, raised the concern during a project validation meeting held in Matuga Sub-County. The forum brought together ordinary citizens, village elders and persons living with disabilities to review proposals earmarked for the next financial year.
Chief Officer for Finance Alex Onduko, speaking on behalf of Governor Fatuma Achani, told residents that their role should not end after submitting proposals. He urged them to keep the county government in check and ensure that projects they identified are actually included and implemented.
He challenged locals to verify whether their priorities appear in the final development plan and to follow up once allocations are made to ensure execution.
Onduko also advised residents to take part in public participation meetings called by Members of the County Assembly, who have the mandate to scrutinize and approve county development plans.
According to Onduko, no project will be undertaken without public input, stressing that public participation is central to deciding which projects are prioritized.
“The administration is committed to ensuring that development is people-driven. We will not implement projects that have not been proposed and validated by the residents themselves,” he said.
Chairman of the Kwale County Budget and Economic Forum, Patrick Yasisi, said involving citizens at both the proposal and review stages is key to ensuring that county plans address real community challenges.
Yasisi noted that the validation process helps to confirm that projects proposed at the village level are captured accurately before they are integrated into the county’s budgeting system.
The exercise is part of the preparations for the County Annual Development Plan for the 2027/28 financial year. Once validated, the proposed projects will be consolidated and incorporated into the county’s development and budgeting framework ahead of tabling in the County Assembly.
Residents listed water scarcity, dilapidated roads, poor health services, and inadequate early childhood education centres among priority areas they want addressed in the next budget.
They warned that ignoring their input would undermine the gains of devolution and erode public confidence in county governance.
The county government said all views gathered will be compiled and factored into the final plan before approval.
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