Turkana County Government has embarked on citizen engagement in physical planning with a view to promoting sustainable development and urbanisation.
Residents of Kerio Delta Ward in Turkana Central participated on Monday in the ongoing citizen participation for the County Spatial Plan (CSP).
The County Spatial Plan, which encompasses all 47 counties, aims to harness the collective wisdom of the local community to shape the future development of the region.
Turkana County, in collaboration with Geoplan Consultancy Ltd., has taken proactive steps to involve the community in the formulation of the county spatial plan. The residents were encouraged to share their views, opinions, and suggestions regarding the future growth and development of the area.
Turkana Director of Physical Planning, Mr. Davies Munialo, emphasised the importance of community involvement in any development project.
“Before embarking on any development initiative, it is essential to inform and engage the community, so that their interests, suggestions, and recommendations are considered to ensure the transformative changes we aim at bringing about in Kerio Delta Ward,” he said.
Munialo further highlighted the ongoing effort to register Turkana Community land, which currently lacks legal documentation. He added that the county government is actively pursuing the registration of community land that has been gazetted to provide residents with secure land tenure through the issuance of title deeds.
Deputy Project Director from Geoplan, Ms. Amina Mohammed, emphasised the consultancy’s close collaboration with the county in the CSP preparation. “This comprehensive approach will ensure that the benefits of the County Spatial Plan reach the entire Turkana community,” she said.
Others who participated included Stephen Barasa (the County Surveyor), Dorcas Lolem (Land Administrator for Turkana Central), Joseph Ekitela (Ward Administrator for Kerio Delta), Thomas Esekon (Village Administrator), Vincent Chuma (Area Chief), and Lucas Lowasa as the Clerk in the Office of the Ward Administrator for Kerio Delta Ward.
By Peter Gitonga
