Kwale unveils Ksh.10.6B budget prioritizing healthcare, roads, and water amid funding cuts

The scaled-down budget zeroes in on healthcare, road infrastructure, and water services—sectors the county deems critical to improving livelihoods and sustaining long-term development.

Governor Fatuma Achani said the reprioritized budget reflects deliberate choices aimed at protecting essential services in the face of financial pressure.

“In the face of budget cuts, we’ve chosen to protect what matters most: the health of our people, the roads that connect them, and the water that sustains them,” she said. “That is how we build a resilient and dignified Kwale.”

The county has made notable progress under Achani’s leadership. At least 178 health facilities have been constructed and equipped, and more than 1,800 health workers recruited to bolster access to medical services across the region.

In the water sector, over 40 boreholes and 40 dams have been established, alongside the extension of more than 570 kilometers of water pipelines—efforts that have expanded access to safe water for households and farms alike.

Road infrastructure has also seen a major facelift, with more than 2,000 kilometers of road networks upgraded. These improvements have enhanced mobility, opened up markets, and linked remote communities to essential services.

To ensure the budget reflects grassroots priorities, the county has rolled out a robust public participation drive across all 20 wards. The forums, which began in Ramisi, Pongwe Kikoneni, Vanga, and Mkongani wards, are scheduled to continue through June 21.

Governor Achani underscored the importance of community participation in shaping the county’s development agenda.

“Public engagement is not just a constitutional requirement—it’s a moral obligation,” she said. “Our people must have a say in the projects that affect their lives.”

Kwale’s commitment to transparency has earned national recognition. The county scored 83 points for its Annual Development Plan and a perfect 100 for its 2024 Finance Act in the County Budget Transparency Survey conducted by Bajeti Hub.

County Assembly Budget Committee Chairperson Manza Beja stressed that the public forums are central to the county’s budgeting process.

“These forums are not a formality; they are the backbone of our budgeting process. Every opinion matters because this is the people’s budget,” she said.

Patrick Yasisi, also from the Budget Committee, added that inclusive budgeting fosters trust and minimizes friction between citizens and their leaders.

Residents have welcomed the participatory approach. In Tiwi Ward, Hassan Kuchengwa and Zawadi Juma hailed the process as a milestone in local governance.

“For a long time, we were completely sidelined. That’s why so many projects stalled or failed. Now, we finally have a platform to speak out and be heard,” Kuchengwa said.