Kwale County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) is arguably one of the most ambitious development blueprints in Kenya. While presiding over the official launch of the document, UNDP Resident Representative in Kenya Nardos Bekele Thomas, commended Kwale government for coming up with a pro-citizen document.
But even as the document gains attention among development pundits, the question that is being raised is whether there is room for its amendment to accommodate emerging issues. In a forum held at Kenyan School of Government in Matuga on February 11, 2015, local civil society leaders raised concerns that there are emerging issues which need to be incorporated in the CIDP.
“Does the CIDP have a specific approach to address the rampant drug trade in Kwale County?” asked Cosmus Maina of Teenswatch Centre, a community based organization that addresses drug abuse among the youth. But the Chief Officer for Community Development Sylvia Chidodo informed the meeting that the county government was already working closely with the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) to address the drug menace. She however informed the meeting that the county government has no mandate of arresting or prosecuting drug barons as that responsibility lies with the national government.
Mahmoud Barroh of Msambweni Human Rights Watch challenged the county government to mentor women leaders to be able to participate effectively in the elective political process. But Ms Chidodo explained that the CIDP had a component for women economic empowerment. “As civil servants, however, it’s not within our mandate to empower people politically,” said the Chief Officer.
An official of Asili Natural Resources Consortium Elsheber Oketch asked what has been done to bring on board the persons with disabilities or any support the county government had offered the few local schools for people with disabilities. The county government, said Ms Chidodo, only plays a supporting role but the National Council of People with Disability have a mandate to address the welfare of PWDs.
One participant informed the meeting that boda boda (motor bike taxi) riders have made 14 girls pregnant in Kinango and that Vinyunduni Dispensary constructed more than ten years ago is yet to become operational. Nyanje Chirongo Tsuma wondered what the county government was doing to address the challenges in Kinango including the limited mobile phone network which has impeded communication in the area.
Other issues raised in the meeting included the prominent presence of gays and lesbians in Kwale and how the county government intended to enhance the gender equality. Kwale Human Rights Network Coordinator George Jaramba noted that there is need to incorporate emerging issues in the CIDP. Ms Chidodo agreed with Jaramba the document could be amended to accommodate the concerns that may not have been captured in the original document. She however clarified that CIDP was a legal document and could only be amended through a legal process.
Ms
Sauti Ya Wakwale 