LOKORI— Residents and community leaders across Turkana East and Suguta sub-counties are demanding improved project coordination and equitable development from the Turkana County Government, urging officials to complete stalled initiatives before launching new ones.
The calls were raised during public participation forums for the proposed Financial Year 2027/2028 County Annual Development Plan (CADP) the final annual implementation framework under the Third-Generation County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP 2023–2027). During the sessions, community members reviewed upcoming proposals while voicing frustration over delayed and unevenly distributed infrastructure projects.
In Lokori, community representative Frankline Karani pointed out regional disparities in the current plan, noting that only three of the area’s seven village units were allocated proposed development initiatives. He urged county planners to ensure the remaining four units are included to achieve balanced regional growth.
Residents in Suguta echoed similar concerns, calling on the county government to strictly align future spending with community-identified needs in critical sectors such as water, healthcare, education, roads, and agriculture.
Local administration officials emphasized the need for better ground-level coordination. Lokori Village Administrator Logiron Mana called on project contractors to consult village and ward administrators prior to breaking ground to boost oversight and community involvement.
Meanwhile, Katilia Ward Administrator Simon Chamale stressed that finishing ongoing projects must take priority over starting new initiatives, and Lokori/Kochodin Ward Administrator Emmanuel Ewar urged county headquarters to streamline communication via official channels to keep local stakeholders informed.
Addressing the forum, Michael Aupe, County Deputy Director for Resource Mobilisation, Partnerships and Donor Coordination, reassured residents that public input remains central to the county’s planning process.
Aupe acknowledged the community’s concerns, stating that future public participation exercises should jointly involve the County Executive, County Assembly, and local leaders to improve project tracking. He added that the county is actively working to clear outstanding pending bills to pave the way for seamless implementation.
The feedback gathered from Turkana East and Suguta will directly shape the final priorities of the FY 2027/2028 CADP, with residents expecting the finalized budget to reflect their primary development needs.
