Residents across Turkana County have called on the County Government to increase funding for water, health services, education, and road infrastructure in the 2026/2027 financial year, as public participation forums on the proposed budget continue across the county.
The calls were made during a public participation forum held in Turkana South, where residents urged county officials to align the next budget with the most pressing needs facing local communities, particularly access to clean water, improved healthcare services, and better road connectivity.
Water emerged as one of the top priorities, with residents calling for urgent investment in water infrastructure to address persistent shortages affecting households across the region.
Community members noted that the burden of water scarcity continues to fall heavily on women, especially expectant and breastfeeding mothers, who often travel long distances to obtain water for domestic use.
Residents said increased investment in water access would not only ease the daily burden on families but also improve health outcomes and strengthen livelihoods in communities that continue to face recurring water stress.
Health services also featured prominently in the discussions, with residents urging the County Government to expand access to healthcare by constructing more dispensaries and strengthening existing health facilities.
Community members said many residents still travel long distances to access basic medical services, underscoring the need for more accessible and better-equipped health centres.
Education stakeholders also called for increased investment in Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE), with residents requesting the construction of additional ECDE centres to improve access to foundational learning for children in underserved areas.
Road infrastructure was another major concern raised during the consultations, with participants urging the county to improve road networks to ease movement, strengthen access to markets, and improve connectivity between communities and essential services.
Residents also called on the county to ensure timely implementation of development projects and to fast-track stalled initiatives so that communities can begin benefiting from public investments without delay.
The budget consultations brought together residents, civil society representatives, and development stakeholders, reflecting growing public interest in ensuring county planning processes respond to the real needs of communities.
Participants emphasised the need for a people-centred budget that prioritises basic services and delivers tangible impact at the grassroots level.
The countywide public participation exercise forms part of Turkana County’s budget-making process for the 2026/2027 financial year and is being spearheaded by the Department of Economic Planning.
County officials said the proposed budget will be financed through equitable share allocations from the National Government, own-source revenue, and conditional grants, with the public participation process expected to guide final allocations and spending priorities.
As consultations continue, residents remain firm in their call for a budget that places water, healthcare, education, and infrastructure at the centre of Turkana’s development agenda.