By M, KNA
Kirinyaga County Members of the County Assembly (MCAs)have demanded greater accountability and efficiency in the implementation of development projects, citing delays and gaps that hinder service delivery to residents.
The calls were made during a debate on the report scrutinizing the Annual Development Plan (ADP) for the 2026/2027 financial year.
The Chairperson of the Finance and Economic Planning Committee, Kenneth Mwendia, who is also the MCA for Nyangati Ward, tabled the report before the Assembly.
In his remarks, Mwendia emphasized that development services are a basic right and insisted that the ADP must do more than listing projects. ADP, they added must ensure that each initiative tangibly improves the lives of Kirinyaga residents.
Fredrick Karimi of Inoi ward lamented the slow implementation of projects in the county, saying budgets and county plans are enacted to improve the livelihoods of the people, hence delayed implementation takes away this right.
Murinduko Ward MCA Charles Nyamu on his part stressed the importance of aligning priorities within the ADP with budgetary outcomes, noting that the ADP sets the foundation for the county’s financial year.
He urged the Department of Finance and Economic Planning to table a detailed report on the status of ward-based projects from the 2024/2025 financial year.
Nominated MCA Grace Kamau highlighted the vulnerability of the health sector, particularly programs reliant on donor support.
She warned that critical services, especially those addressing HIV and tuberculosis (TB), were at risk of collapse if contingency measures were not included in the planning process.
On the other hand, Kinyua Wangui called on fellow MCAs to actively embrace their representative role by engaging voters in shaping the development agenda.
He reiterated that the ADP should not be treated as a mere planning document but as a “living plan” that responds to the evolving needs of the people.
The Assembly’s deliberations come at a time when the county is under increasing public scrutiny to deliver on its development promises.
The Assembly calls for regular progress updates to ensure timely and effective implementation of projects