Tsimba-Golini Residents Prioritise Roads, Water and Ambulance in Supplementary Budget

By Caroline Katana

Kwale County has proposed the purchase of two fire engines among the projects to be considered in its supplementary budget, as public participation on the additional allocation continued in Tsimba-Golini Ward on Tuesday.

County Attorney Salim Gombeni said the fire engines were among the county’s proposed priorities as residents were given an opportunity to identify projects they wanted considered in the supplementary budget.

The county is seeking to allocate an additional Sh804 million in mining royalty revenue, with public participation providing communities with an opportunity to put forward their own development priorities.

In Tsimba-Golini, residents from different village units identified roads, water and emergency medical services among the projects they want prioritised.

In Golini, residents proposed the rehabilitation of a borehole at Golini Primary School, which they said broke down shortly after it was drilled and has since remained unusable.

Salim Chizuga, a resident of Upper - Golini who represented young people and the wider Tsimba- Golini community, said the borehole developed problems with its electricity supply and piping.

“We have a water problem. We proposed that the borehole be cleaned and then connected to electricity so that it can supply water to the whole area,” Chizuga said.

Residents also proposed an ambulance to serve the wider Golini area, where dispensaries at Vyongwani and Chitsanze serve the community but lack dedicated emergency transport.

Chizuga said an ambulance would help residents respond to medical emergencies more effectively.

He said residents would also follow up on projects they have proposed and participate in monitoring their implementation.

“We should not only follow up when the project has been implemented. We should also see how it is working and how it is benefiting the community,” he said.

In Kundutsi unit, residents selected the Vuga-Mazumalume road as their priority, citing its poor condition and the difficulties it creates for movement and trade.

Salim Bakari Dilo, a resident of Mwalungo village, said the road becomes particularly difficult to use during rainy periods because of potholes and damaged sections.

“When it rains, the road breaks down and it becomes difficult to transport goods and take products from Mazumalume to the market,” Dilo said.

Fatma Said Ali, a resident of Bumbani, said residents are confident that their proposal would be followed up based on their experience with previous projects implemented through their local leadership.

She said the public participation process had given residents an opportunity to directly identify projects that reflect their needs.

The Tsimba-Golini proposals came on the second day of the countywide public participation exercise, as residents continue to shape priorities for the supplementary budget.

The discussions in the ward highlighted different needs within the same constituency, with residents putting forward projects they believe would have a direct impact on access to water, healthcare and transport.