Kiambu County Assembly has stepped up scrutiny of the proposed 2027/2028 Annual Development Plan, with Members of the County Assembly demanding answers from the County Executive over delayed, stalled and unimplemented projects contained in the current financial year’s development programme.
The MCAs questioned county officials on the status of projects approved under the 2026/2027 Development Plan as they assessed whether proposed programmes for the next financial year were realistic, properly prioritised and capable of being implemented within the available resources.
The engagements, conducted by various departmental committees of the Assembly, placed project implementation and accountability at the centre of deliberations, with members seeking explanations for programmes that have either delayed or failed to take off.
The committees are expected to use the responses from the County Executive to inform their consideration of the proposed 2027/2028 ADP before it is subjected to the next stages of scrutiny and approval.
Among the committees involved was the Public Service and Administration Committee, chaired by MCA Hezron Gachui, which questioned delays surrounding several initiatives in the health and public administration sectors.
The committee sought an update on the proposed establishment of a rehabilitation centre, an alcoholic drinks testing laboratory and screening units at Level IV and Level V health facilities.
Members demanded to know why the projects had not been implemented as envisaged, raising concerns over the implications of delayed interventions in areas affecting public health and social welfare.
The committee also questioned the County Executive over the county’s failure to attain ISO 9001 certification for quality management, seeking an explanation on the steps being taken towards achieving the certification.
The questions placed the County Executive under pressure to demonstrate how its plans are being translated into actual services and infrastructure on the ground, rather than remaining as allocations and commitments in successive development plans.
The Roads, Public Works and Infrastructure Committee, chaired by Patrick Mwiberi, similarly raised concerns over delays in road rehabilitation and maintenance projects across the county.
Members sought explanations over the progress of road works and the reasons behind delays in implementing projects that had already been identified and prioritised.
Road infrastructure remains one of the key areas of public spending at the county level, with residents relying on the projects to improve access to markets, schools, health facilities and other public services.
The Trade, Tourism and Industrialisation Committee, chaired by Patrick Ngaruiya, also participated in the scrutiny, alongside the Health Services Committee chaired by Joseph Kamau Muhinja.
The Education, Science and Research Committee, chaired by Lawrence Mwaura, was involved in examining programmes falling under its mandate, while the Ward Performance Projects Committee, commonly associated with the Ward Development Fund, is chaired by Peter Wainaina. Kamau Thumbi represented the committee during the engagements.
The scrutiny comes at a critical stage in the county planning and budgeting cycle, as the Assembly weighs new proposals against the implementation record of the current financial year.
MCAs are expected to examine whether proposed projects are backed by adequate resources, whether previous commitments have been implemented and whether departments have the capacity to complete projects within the stipulated financial periods.
The exercise also provides an opportunity for the Assembly to identify projects that may require reprioritisation, additional funding or closer monitoring to prevent them from remaining on paper.
The questions on delayed projects could also shape the Assembly’s assessment of the County Executive’s performance in implementing the current development plan.
Under the county planning framework, the Annual Development Plan provides a basis for identifying programmes and projects to be undertaken in the subsequent financial year and feeds into the wider budget-making process.
The MCAs are therefore expected to scrutinise the proposed plan not only on the basis of new projects, but also in light of outstanding commitments carried over from previous plans.
The County Executive will be expected to provide satisfactory responses to the concerns raised by the committees before the Assembly proceeds with consideration and approval of the proposed 2027/2028 Annual Development Plan.
The process is likely to keep the spotlight on the implementation of county projects, particularly where funds have been allocated but residents are yet to see the promised infrastructure and services.
For the MCAs, the scrutiny presents an opportunity to demand greater accountability from departments while ensuring that the next development plan is anchored on achievable projects and clear implementation timelines.
