West Pokot County embarked on an extensive two-day public participation initiative, reaching each of the 20 wards to gather residents’ views on how government funds will be allocated for the fiscal year 2025/2026.
This ambitious outreach programme aims to ensure that the voices of all residents are heard in the decision-making processes as enshrined in the 2010 Constitution.
Speaking at the Siyoi and Kapenguria Wards during the County Budget and Economic Forums (CBEF) chaired by the County Executive Committee Members (CECMs), the participants acknowledged the role being played by the government in ensuring that development projects meet the residents’ expectations.
CECM Public Service Management (PSM), ICT, Administration, and Devolved Units Martin Lotee and his and his Water, Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change counterpart William Petot as state actors, thanked the residents for their active participation and invaluable input.
“We are truly grateful for your presence and for the opinions you’ve shared. Many have expressed their thoughts on the projects they want to see implemented this year. The government is on track to work diligently for the benefit of the locals,” Lotee said.
Lotee encouraged the citizens to prioritize the completion of ongoing projects before embarking on new ones.
“It is important that we finish the projects already in progress to ensure that we maximize the impact of our resources. We need to focus on finishing what we’ve started so that we can build on that success before starting new initiatives,” he added.
He further advised the community to organize their affairs in order of priorities, stating that they have asked the people to prioritise their needs and identify what they want to be done, saying it will help the County to allocate resources efficiently and ensure that they address the most pressing issues first.
He further emphasized that the government is taking into account the opinions of the people regarding the ward fund money, as well as input from county groups in general.
“We are here to listen to your thoughts on how the ward funds should be spent, and we are equally keen to hear what county groups suggest for the broader development of West Pokot. Your feedback is critical in shaping the county’s financial future,” Lotee said.
He emphasized the importance of public participation, stating that this exercise is crucial because the money being used belongs to the government, but more importantly, it belongs to the citizens.
“As taxpayers, every one of you has the right to express your opinion on how the funds should be spent. These are your taxes at work, and your voices are essential in guiding how the money is allocated to best serve your needs,” said Lotee.
West Pokot residents expressed their opinions, placing health, education, and basic infrastructure as their top priorities.
Many urged the county government to take their concerns seriously, particularly regarding the need for improved healthcare services, better educational facilities, and the development of essential structures such as roads and water systems.
“These are fundamental services that impact our daily lives, and we need the government to invest in them,” residents stated.
At Mtelo Hall in Kapenguria Ward, CECM for Water, Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change William Petot termed the engagement a success, where participants drawn from the three locations of Kapkoris, Chemwochoi and Kapenguria locations deliberated on priority projects that would be undertaken under the next financial year as per the 2023-2027 County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) report.
“Public participation is critical since the locals understand what their urgent needs are and this helps the government collect information and come up with plans on how to implement essential projects. The 2010 Constitution gives mwananchi the power to decide what the government should do for them,” stated the CECM.
Petot appealed to residents to be attending such annual forums so that their needs are captured by their respective governments.
Kapenguria ward residents highlighted the need to have improvements on the road networks within the ward that is considered the epicentre of the county where the county headquarters is domiciled.
“We have some important roads such as the one leading to the St. Francis School for the Visually Impaired which is in deplorable state,” said William Odhiambo, a resident.
The residents acknowledged the work so far done by the county government, noting that the public participation forums had borne fruit, hence the engagements are worth the tax payers’ money.
Another resident, Eliza Lochang’ole argued that emphasis on road networks would spearhead development not only within the ward, but also across the county noting that women will be more empowered if the projects proposed are fully implemented.
“We wish that the road from Bendera through Kakrut to Keng’echwo is upgraded so that women doing business at the newly opened Bendera Market enjoy,” stated Lochang’ole.
By Agneta Chebet and Richard Muhambe
