Tuesday, 10th September, 2024
The Kitui County Assembly has launched a four-day public participation exercise to gather input on the Annual Development Plan (ADP) for 2025/2026. Spearheaded by the County Assembly’s Committee on Finance and Economic Planning, the exercise kicked off today in Kitui West Sub-county, with residents gathering at Kithumula kwa Mutonga Chief’s Camp to share their views.
During the session, members of the public voiced several concerns and suggestions. Key among them was a request to increase the County Local Infrastructure Development Program (CLIDP) allocation from the current KSh 750 million to KSh 850 million. They also advocated for the grading of an additional 40 km of access roads per ward, raising the total to 80 km in each ward. Furthermore, residents requested a fair distribution of pro-poor bursaries and the construction of additional cattle dips, particularly in Kithumula Ward.
Addressing the gathering, County Assembly Speaker Hon. Kevin Kinengo Katisya emphasized the critical role of the Annual Development Plan, describing it as a vital document that guides the implementation of projects and programs by all county ministries, as outlined in the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP). Kinengo assured the public that their views would be carefully considered during budget allocations, with a commitment to ensuring equitable resource distribution across all wards.
Hon. Paul Maluki, the MCA for Kithumula/Kwa Mutonga Ward and chair of the session, reaffirmed the Committee’s commitment to incorporating public input into the final report, in accordance with Section 131 (2) of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) 2012.
The public participation exercise is set to continue tomorrow, Wednesday, 11th September, 2024, in Mwingi North and Kitui South constituencies.
