BUDGET PROPOSALS – BWITI AND BUMAMANI KWALE COUNTY

We the people of Bwiti and Bumamani villages in Kwale County held a meeting on Tuesday 2^nd May, 2017 to discuss development initiatives in our area. Some of us in Bwiti were relocated from Maumba village to pave way for mining activities by Base Titanium Limited while most of the residents in Bumamani are living next to the mine. As a result of the relocation process we lost access to some of the basic services like water, healthcare and schools which were readily available in their former village.

We resolved to be part of the ongoing public finance debates and get our fair share of public resources through provision of basic services. This is in line with Article 201 of the Constitution of Kenya which calls for openness, transparency and accountability in public finance management.

Currently, the Kwale County budget estimates FY 2017/2018 have been tabled at the County assembly awaiting public participation, debate and enactment or with or without amendments. We have taken an early lead to scrutinize the budget estimates and provide our input for your consideration.

As taxpayers it is our hope that the Kwale County Assembly will consider these proposals and fund them during the Financial Year 2017/2018. We will be glad to hear from you on the proposals that have been funded and if there are any questions which need clarification, we are available to answer.

We have proposed the following projects for funding under education, health, water, trade, agriculture and infrastructure sectors.

SECTOR PROPOSALS

1. Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries  

Proposals

-We propose that the county provides artificial insemination for livestock farmers to get highbred animals.

– Fish Farming: Fish ponds for groups (youth, women and people with disabilities).

– Farm Inputs: Kwale County government should provide farmers with seeds such as cow-peas, green grams, fertilizer and pesticides. Provide farmers with training on best practices.

– Cash crops: We ask the Kwale County government to conduct research on cash crops like cashew nuts and simsim and come up with ways of value-addition to create products such as cashew nut butter and simsim oil to create an entire industry and hence more several jobs for the people of Kwale County. This is a great underutilized resource.  

Justification

• Upgrading livestock
• Established youth farms will be a source of employment and income for the target groups because they are located far away from the ocean where most of the fishing is practiced.
• Proper training on agricultural skills will help in fight against famine, increased incomes and provide self -employment.
• Improving the existing types of cash crops can have an economic transform because farmers will earn more income and invest it in other ventures.
• Trade and Cooperative Development  

Proposals

• We ask for provision of civic education on how to get access to Trade Revolving Fund.
• We ask the county to build for us a market shade on the public land in Bwiti. At Magaoni we need expansion of the existing market center to benefit more people and create conducive environment for trade.
• We request the county government to review the terms and conditions for issuing loans from the Trade Revolving Fund.

Justification

Promoting trade in Kwale County is essential for traders to generate more revenue and hence pay more taxes, levies or fees to the county government. It is a win-win situation.

• Medical and Public Health Services

Proposals

• We ask the Kwale County to expand Bwiti dispensary to a health center and equip the health center at Magaoni.
• Employ more healthcare staff at the above healthcare facility. 
• We ask the county to provide us with an ambulance at Bwiti and Magaoni to serve the sick people who need emergence services.
• We ask for provision of sufficient essential drugs and medicine to satisfy the current demand.

Justification

• There is need for expansion of the health facilities because Msambweni County Referral hospital is far away from the residents and the roads leading there are in poor condition.
• Availability of professional health care providers is essential to ensure people enjoy their right to health. 
• The ambulance will help save the lives of people who need urgent attention. Currently, ambulance that serves the two villages comes from Kikoneni (10 kilometers away) which takes a lot of time hence reducing patients’ chances of survival.
• Currently, drugs and other medical provisions are inadequate and we are told to purchase from private chemists which are more costly.
• Water Services

Proposals

• We need the Kwale County to set aside resources to be used for establishing a water piping system to distribute water from the borehole in Chigombero to reach people who live in Bwiti.
• We ask the county to provide us with water tanks for rain water harvesting. These tanks should be installed at strategic points in Bwiti and Bumamani villages.
• We ask the Kwale County government to construct for us huge water dams to supply water for our livestock during the dry season.

Justification

• The right to access to clean piped water is provided for under Article 43 of the Constitution of Kenya. Therefore, providing piped water for the residents of Bwiti and Bumamani will put the county at bar with other governments which are committed towards promoting its citizens’ access to basic services.
• Education, Research and Human Resource Development

Proposals

• County government of Kwale should allocate resources towards building of modern village polytechnics in Bumamani.
• Kwale County should build an ECDE center in Bumamani to serve the children there.
• More caregivers to be employed at Bwiti Earlier Childhood Development Education (ECDE) center.

Justification

• The village polytechnic will provide essential skills such as masonry, plumping, carpentry and electrical wiring.
• ECDE education is the foundation of one’s education. In Bumamani our children walk long distances to access ECDE services.
• Currently, one care giver employed at Bwiti is serving 150 pupils. This means the children are not receiving proper care that they deserve.
• Kwale County to allocate resources towards the hiring of more care givers in order to provide high quality services to the pupils.

• Infrastructure and Public Works  

Proposals

• We ask the county government to rehabilitate/marram the Mvumoni-Bwiti-Mwambalazi, Bwiti-Kiruku roads.
• Kwale County should set aside funds to place culverts between Mwambalazi and Chigombero.
• We request for tarmacking of Ramisi-Kikoneni road.
• Kwale County government should provide culvets on the road between Mvumoni and Mwambalazi.

Justification

• The Mvumoni-Bwiti-Mwambalazi and Bwiti-Kiruku roads are impassible during the rainy season and as a result it negatively affects our economic activities.
• Tarmacking of Ramisi-Kikoneni road will promote ease movement of people and goods and hence facilitate economic growth for the region.
• Culverts on the road between Mvumoni and Mwambalazi will improve accessibility to the area and make it easier to access the hospitals.

KIBERA FORCED EVICTIONS

On July 04^th 2018, thousands of residents of Kibera informal settlement woke up to a two week eviction notice. According to a memo signed by the National Building Inspectorate, the residents who were living on the road reserve were hindering the construction of the Ngong Road-Kibera-Kungu Karumba –Langata link road. This was not the first time they faced evictions as in 2016, construction of the road was halted by the High Court after residents of the informal settlement went to court to challenge the demolitions. Unfortunately, this time around their pleas fell on deaf ears.

Kibera is currently the largest informal settlement in Africa with approximately 2.5 million dwellers. Land here is owned by the government with about 10% of the residents being shack owners and the rest being tenants. The Nubian community is the only community in the informal settlement that now owns land after they were awarded a community land title for 288 acres on June 02^nd 2017. Kibera is near the Nairobi Industrial Area, making it convenient for the residents (most of whom are casual laborers) to walk to and from work. The women also get their livelihoods by working as domestic cleaners in the surrounding estates. 

Despite protests from the residents and intervention attempts from several CSOs and other bodies, the demolitions took place on July 23^rd 2018. More than 30,000 residents woke up to the shock of their lives as bulldozers from the National Youth Service (NYS) brought down their homes from as early as 6 am. The evictions was a two day process with  day one starting off the demolitions in Makina area with parts of  Mashimoni and Lindi area being demolished on day two. School going children were particularly hit hard with several schools being demolished. Some of the schools that were demolished include Mashimoni Squatters School which had 576 students being partly demolished, Makina Self Help School which had 150 students being demolished, Mashimoni Primary School which had 200 students being demolished and Love Africa Somi School which had 530 students being party demolished. Religious centers and medical facilities were also brought down. The Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) claimed to have undertaken a Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) prior to the evictions, promising compensation to businesses and home owners but the word on the street remains that the RAP was not competed.

 

Immediately after the Kibera evictions, the National Building Inspectorate within the Transport Ministry declared to undertake forced evictions in other areas in the following weeks. Some of the areas to be affected included Deep Sea (Parklands), Accra, Ngara, Kaloleni, Makongeni, Mbotela, Mutindwa, Dandora and Kamae. True to their warnings some of the areas like Kaloleni saw evictions carried out soon afterwards.

 

 

http://infra-ltd.blogspot.com/2016/07/kibera-facts-information.html

https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2018/07/23/video-anguish-as-houses-demolished-to-pave-way-for-kibera-link-road_c1791222

 

PLANNING MEETINGS FOR ADP 2019/2020 FORUMS

It is that time again when you engage in the county planning and budgeting process. I hope you have started engaging in the formulation of the Annual Development Plan in your county. Here in Nairobi we are in pursuit of an ideal Annual Development Plan (ADP). All 47 counties are required by the law to develop ADPs every year (check Article 126 of the Public Finance Management Act, 2012). Every County shall prepare an Annual Development Plan in accordance with Article 220 (2) Constitution of Kenya 2010.

 

Contents of County Annual Development Plan (CADP)

1.  Strategic priorities for the medium term that reflect the county’s priorities and plans;
2.  A description of how county government is responding to changes in the financial and  economic environment
3. Programmes to be delivered with details for each programme;
4.  Payments to be made on behalf of the County government, including details of any grants, benefits and subsidies that are to be paid;
5.  A description of significant capital developments;
6.  A detailed description of proposals with respect to the development of physical, intellectual, human and other resources of the county, including measurable indicators where those are feasible.

 

Concerns, issues flagged from Nairobi County ADP 2019/2020

1.0 Mukuru Special Planning Area (SPA)

The Mukuru Special Planning Area (SPA) has been allocated Ksh 5 million. This is a drop in the ocean. The Nairobi County Annual Development Plan CADP 2019/2020 does not provide reasons for the choices made in this case. There is no clear narrative on how this insufficient resources will be spent considering that this is a mega project that needs plenty of resources. Nairobi City County should focus on clearing the obstacles which lies along the way.

According to Physical Planning Act 1999, the Director by notice in the Gazette, may declare an area with unique development potential or problems as a special planning area for the purposes of preparation of a physical development plan irrespective of whether such an area lies within or outside the area of a local authority.

Our Proposal

Instead of the City County commencing any projects in the special planning area, the resources allocated towards this function should be spent on certificate of leasing the area is transferred from the private investors to the state. This is currently deemed to be an obstacle to development in the area.

Justification

As indicated in the CIDP and Annual Development Plan 2019/2020, there are many competing wants for land use in Nairobi. Land is in limited supply compared to the numerous needs for land. This calls for proper preparation for any government project to succeed.

2.0 Renewal of Old Estates in Nairobi

According to the 4th Schedule, social protection is a national function and as a result, Mji wa Huruma should be constructed and supported financially by the national government.

Affordable and social housing

Enumeration of people in the old estates that have been earmarked for renewal or upgrading.  There is lack of clarity on social and affordable housing. Right now Nairobi City should be investing in conducting enumeration of people in the earmarked old estates in Nairobi.

In 2019/2020, Nairobi City is planning to launch the Park Road affordable housing projects to be among the projects to be developed in other informal settlements.

Health Sector

In the health sector, residents raised their concerns noting that Nairobi County should ideal focus on prevention to reduce on cases that need curative care. They noted that most residents suffer from lifestyle diseases which can be solved by behavioral change such as providing facilities and infrastructure which enable residents to live a healthy lifestyle. For instance, there is need for pedestrian and bicycle lanes in the city to make it possible for more residents to ride bicycles to work which will have a great impact on their health. This strategy has worked miracles in countries such as Cuba where there are fewer cars than people.

On curative programme the residents of major informal settlements have called for establishment of cancer centers to deal with increasing number of cancer cases and hence the need for screening and subsequent treatment.

There was a strong feeling that instead of installing an elevator at Pumwani Hospital which is already compliant with facilities for people living with disabilities and the resources that have been proposed for construction of a perimeter wall around Langata Cemetery (Ksh. 28 million) should be reallocated towards addressing more urgent needs such as provision of medicine at all primary health care centers around the capital city.

Education and Social Services Sector

The Nairobi residents noted with a lot of concern that youth promotion and empowerment does not get adequate resources as expected despite them being used actively during the campaign period. At the planning stage, counties and national government talk fondly about allocating adequate resources for youth empowerment but in the actual budgets the resources are inadequate to say the least. For instance, Nairobi County allocated just Ksh. 3.7 million for Youth Empowerment and Promotion for Financial Year 2018/2019.

According to Nairobi County Annual Development Plan 2019/2020, in the calendar year 2018 approximately 3.8 out of 4.9 million Nairobi residents (77.5%) will be aged between 0-34 years of age.  These are classified as youths in Kenya. Therefore, it makes no sense to allocate this huge number of youths just Ksh. 3.7 million for their development and promotion.

Expenditure on National Government Functions

Nairobi County as always is planning to spend on bursaries for secondary school students. This is a popular budget vote despite it being a violation of the 4th Schedule of the Constitution. We all know that secondary education is a national function until and otherwise there is a written transfer of this function as required by the law.

Water and Sanitation

The residents of Nairobi informal settlements were surprised to learn that there is no mention of expansion of the existing water infrastructure in Nairobi City. Instead, the Annual Development mentions the drilling of boreholes, rainwater harvesting and the water kiosks.