Residents of Turkana North Sub-County have identified education, healthcare, water and infrastructure among their top priorities as they contributed to the preparation of the County Annual Development Plan (ADP) for the 2027/2028 financial year.
The public participation forum held in Lokitaung brought together residents from Lakezone, Lapur, Kaaleng/Kaikor and Kaeris wards, who proposed high-impact projects for consideration in the county development plan.
Residents also used the forum to validate proposed projects, their locations and implementation status, helping identify areas requiring completion, expansion or new investment.
The construction and completion of Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centres emerged as the leading priority across all four wards, reflecting the demand for improved access to early learning facilities in the remote parts of the sub-county.
On healthcare, residents called for the construction and equipping of maternity and newborn units at Loruth Dispensary, Kaikor Sub-County Hospital and Mlima Tatu Hospital, among other facilities.
They also proposed the completion of stalled health projects and construction of additional dispensaries to bring essential medical services closer to communities.
Water infrastructure was another major concern raised during the exercise, with residents calling for expanded water systems and the operationalisation of the reverse osmosis water treatment plant, particularly in Kaituko.
Other proposals included the construction of village administrative offices and the development of irrigation schemes to improve access to services while creating opportunities for agricultural production and livelihoods.
Residents said investment in these priority areas would help improve access to essential services and unlock development opportunities in some of the most remote and underserved parts of Turkana North.
Leading the public participation exercise, County Director for Monitoring and Evaluation John Ekaru said the process was essential in ensuring that county development plans reflect the actual needs and priorities of local communities.
Ekaru emphasised that public participation is an important civic responsibility that allows residents to influence government projects and programmes affecting their lives.
He noted that the views collected from residents would play a key role in shaping the county’s development priorities for the 2027/2028 financial year.
The proposals and priorities gathered during the Lokitaung forum will now be consolidated and considered during the preparation of the final 2027/2028 County Annual Development Plan.
