The Kiambu County Government has invited residents, private-sector players, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to participate in public forums that will help shape the county’s development priorities for the 2027/2028 financial year.
The Department of Finance, ICT and Economic Planning will hold public participation forums across the county’s sub-counties and municipalities on August 25 and 26, giving residents an opportunity to propose projects, raise concerns and make recommendations for consideration in the County Annual Development Plan (ADP).
The forums will provide a platform for residents to influence the allocation of resources and identify projects and programmes they consider most urgent in their respective areas.
The county administration said public participation was being undertaken as part of the process of preparing the ADP for the 2027/2028 financial year in line with Section 126 of the Public Finance Management Act.
The department also invoked constitutional provisions on public participation and principles of public finance, as well as provisions of the County Governments Act, in inviting the public to take part in the process.
“Share your development priorities, proposals, concerns and recommendations to help shape the County’s development agenda,” the county said in its public notice.
County Executive Committee Member for Finance, ICT and Economic Planning Nancy Kirumba urged residents and stakeholders to attend the meetings and make proposals that respond to the development needs of their communities.
The county has also asked participants to align their proposals with the Kiambu County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) 2023-2027, Kenya Vision 2030, the Fourth Medium-Term Plan and Governor Kimani Wamatangi’s manifesto.
The alignment, the county said, would help ensure that proposals submitted during the public participation process are consistent with existing county and national development priorities.
Written proposals will also be accepted at the Red Nova Offices, Kiambu, Finance Block, or through email to economicplanningkiambu@gmail.com
The deadline for submission of written proposals is August 26, the same day the second phase of the public forums will be held. All the meetings will begin at 10am.
On August 25, residents of Thika will meet at Thika Municipal Hall, while those in Juja will converge at the Juja Sub-County Offices. Ruiru residents will hold their forum at Ruiru AIPCA, while the Kiambu forum will take place at Kiambu Community Hall.
In Gatundu North, the meeting will be held at Kamwangi PCEA Church, with Gatundu South residents meeting at Gatundu Educational Hall.
Residents of Githurai will meet at PEFA Church Kimbo Progressive.
The second day of the exercise, August 26, will cover Lari, Githunguri, Kabete, Kikuyu, Limuru and Kiambaa.
Lari residents will meet at Orthodox Church Hall in Kimende, while the Githunguri forum will be held at the Githunguri Sub-County Offices.
In Kabete, the meeting will take place at ACK Wangige Church Hall.
Kikuyu residents will meet at St Paul Catholic Magoko Centre along Muguku Road, while Limuru residents will gather at Kirathimo Social Hall.
The Kiambaa forum will be held at St Martins De Porres Catholic Church in Karuri.
The exercise comes at a time when county governments are increasingly relying on public participation to identify community priorities and guide investment decisions.
Under Kenya’s devolved system of government, public participation is a key requirement in planning and budgeting, with residents expected to have a say in projects and programmes that directly affect their communities.
The ADP is an important component of the county planning and budgeting cycle because it sets out proposed programmes and projects to be implemented in the following financial year.
The process will therefore give Kiambu residents an opportunity to influence priorities before they are incorporated into subsequent stages of county planning and budgeting.
The county administration has encouraged members of the public to attend the forums in person and present specific proposals on projects and services they want prioritised.
Stakeholders have also been asked to use the meetings to highlight challenges affecting service delivery and make recommendations on how county programmes can be improved.
The outcome of the consultations is expected to inform the preparation of the 2027/2028 ADP and provide a basis for prioritising development interventions across Kiambu’s 12 sub-counties and municipalities.
The county government said broad participation would be important in ensuring that the final plan reflects the needs and aspirations of residents across the county.
