By Shammah Oketch
Siaya County Holds Public Participation Forum at Honge Beach,West Yimbo to Address Community Priorities
The County Government of Siaya has held a public participation forum at Honge Beach in West Yimbo Ward, Bondo Sub-County, providing residents with an opportunity to raise concerns and identify key development priorities requiring urgent intervention.
The exercise brought together members of the public and local administration officials, with discussions focusing on critical service delivery gaps and infrastructure challenges affecting the community.
Among the major concerns raised was the poor state of the morgue at Got Agulu Hospital, with residents expressing concern that bodies were exposed to rain due to the deteriorating condition of the facility. The community called for urgent rehabilitation of the morgue, alongside the provision of a backup generator to support hospital operations.
Residents also highlighted the lack of a public address system, the need for modern toilets and stores in Nango, and the provision of plastic chairs under an allocation of KSh 3 million. Questions were also raised regarding the groups selected to benefit from the plastic chairs, with calls for transparency in the selection process.
The forum further identified inadequate civic education as a major challenge, with concerns that many members of the public lacked sufficient information on government programmes, development processes and their role in public participation.
In her response, Ward Administrator Susan Milongo, who also facilitated the meeting, informed residents that KSh 24 million had been provided to facilitate various development activities.
She called on the community to prioritise the most pressing needs, noting that critical issues such as the poor condition of the Got Agulu Hospital morgue should receive immediate attention before other projects are considered.
On the proposed backup generator, Milongo explained that its provision should be funded through the County Executive, clarifying the appropriate channel for addressing the concern.
The meeting underscored the importance of meaningful public participation in identifying community needs, setting development priorities and promoting accountability in the implementation of government projects.
It also highlighted the need to strengthen civic education to ensure residents are adequately informed and actively involved in shaping development decisions within their respective communities.
