Kitui-based governance and development commentator Yoana Kimwele has called on the Kitui County Assembly and the County Executive to enact legislation that would institutionalise the County-Level Infrastructure Development Projects (CLIDP) programme before the current administration’s term comes to an end.
Kimwele said the proposed law should establish a clear and sustainable framework for the planning, funding and implementation of infrastructure projects at the county level, ensuring that the programme remains protected beyond the tenure of the current leadership.
He proposed that the CLIDP allocation be pegged at one-third of Kitui County’s annual sharable revenue allocation, which she estimates would translate to approximately KSh1.2 billion for infrastructure development, compared with the current allocation of less than KSh800 million.
According to Kimwele, placing CLIDP within a legislative framework would help prevent future administrations from significantly reducing funding or abandoning the programme altogether.
“We might get a Governor after 2027 who will trash the CLIDP development idea and allocate less than KSh400 million,” Kimwele said, arguing that legislation would provide continuity and ensure infrastructure development remains a county priority.
Her proposal comes amid ongoing discussions on how counties can strengthen long-term development planning and protect key programmes from changes in political leadership.
Kimwele urged both the County Assembly and the Executive to consider the proposal before the expiry of their current mandates, saying a legal framework would give CLIDP a more predictable funding structure and help sustain infrastructure development across Kitui.
Kimwele also called on the Kitui County Government to institutionalise the Kitui Agricultural Trade Fair and Show as an annual county programme through legislation. He said the event plays an important role in showcasing agricultural innovations, promoting local products and creating opportunities for farmers, agribusinesses and other stakeholders.
He urged the County Assembly and the County Executive to work together to develop a legal framework that would guarantee the annual organisation and funding of the agricultural trade fair, regardless of changes in county leadership.
According to Kimwele, making the agricultural trade fair a statutory county programme would provide consistency in its planning, attract more exhibitors and investors, and strengthen Kitui’s agricultural sector by giving farmers a reliable platform to market their products, share knowledge and explore new business opportunities.
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