Mandera residents voice concerns over infrastructure needs in 2024/2025 budget projections
By Adan Mohamed |
The public participation exercise underscored the importance of involving citizens in the budgetary process to ensure that their needs and priorities are adequately reflected in the fiscal planning for the nation.
Residents of Mandera County have expressed their concerns about the revenue and expenditure forecasts for the fiscal year 2024/2025, with a particular emphasis on vital infrastructure needs like as roads, water scarcity, and security.
During a public participation exercise in Mandera County, Mohamed Hussein from Mandera East highlighted the acute water shortage, urging the Budget and Appropriation Committee of the National Assembly to allocate funds for the drilling of boreholes and construction of earth pans to address the pressing issue.
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"We are pastoralists, and water is essential for our livelihoods. The committee needs to prioritise water provision as many residents are in dire need," stated Mohamed Hussein.
Yussuf Abdi from Mandera North raised concerns about the poor state of road networks, which hinder access to essential government services in most sub-counties. He urged the committee to allocate funds for road infrastructure improvement.
"We lack safe and reliable roads, making it difficult to access basic services. We urge the committee to allocate funds to address this issue," emphasized Yussuf Abdi.
Member of Parliament for Lafey Constituency, Mohamed Abdikheir, emphasised the importance of equity in resource allocation across all counties, dismissing the notion of 'one man, one shilling, one vote.'
"Equality should be the guiding principle in resource allocation. Every county deserves equitable development opportunities," added Mohamed.
The public participation exercise underscored the importance of involving citizens in the budgetary process to ensure that their needs and priorities are adequately reflected in the fiscal planning for the nation.
Led by Ndindi Nyoro, Member of Parliament for Kiharu Constituency and Chairman of the Budget and Appropriation Committee, the session in Mandera County addressed concerns raised by the locals.
During the session, the legislator emphasised the government's commitment to equitable development by allocating a substantial portion of the budget, amounting to Sh11.4 billion, to Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) regions.
Out of this allocation, Sh700 million has been earmarked for the education sector, reflecting the priority placed on ensuring access to quality education for Kenyan children.
"Education surpasses all other development; that is why it is receiving the highest allocation," remarked Nyoro.
In addition, an extra Sh26 million has been allocated to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to facilitate the employment of 20,000 teachers.
Nyoro further said funds have been set aside for cash transfers to support the elderly people.
Mandera County has been granted the opportunity to propose a project valued at Sh100 million for implementation in the forthcoming financial year.
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