Tharaka Nithi: Public participation forum on budget ends in disarray

A public participation exercise on the 2025/2026 Tharaka Nithi County budget process ended in disarray.

This was after leaders and residents of Maara Subcounty clashed over the composition of the forum amid claims that the representation was skewed.

Confusion reigned during the meeting held at Igwanjau in Ganga Ward after a section of the participants cried foul that the representation was unfair and tilted to sideline and deny opposing views the platform to voice their concerns.

The meeting was convened to collect views of residents from five wards, but turned chaotic when participants from other wards perceived to be critical of the document, engaged in shouting matches after a sharp division emerged over the process.

The situation worsened, forcing residents and leaders from Mitheru to walk out of the meeting, leaving behind only representatives from Ganga Ward residents, who were hosting the forum to continue with the discussions.

Ganga Ward MCA Lisbeth Gatiria later defended the forum and the budget, stating that the allocations were fair to her ward, although the exclusion of other parties in the aborted process further subjected the entire process to legitimacy concerns

“We have good allocations in the budget. This forum was meant to engage the public, hear views, and improve what needs to be adjusted — not to cause division,” she said.

Her remarks were supported by Ganga residents. Benson Mwandiki, a local resident, said that after their MCA read the budget to them, they fully supported it. 

“We have seen the breakdown, and over Sh90 million has been allocated to projects in our ward. This budget is good and addresses our needs,” he stated.

Wilson Mainda, a youth leader for Ganga, echoed the same sentiments, saying that all the key projects they had proposed were allocated funds in the budget. 

“All our priority projects have been captured and allocated money. We urge our MCA to go ahead and pass this budget because it reflects our wishes,” he said.

However, Mitheru MCA Nevert Kinuthia strongly opposed the process, saying it lacked inclusivity. 

“How can you call it public participation when people from other wards are being chased away? There was no CEC or Chief Officer from Mitheru, and no space was given for my people to air their views," he said.

 He claimed that the entire process was a one-sided meeting held in Ganga Ward and meant for Ganga residents, and they were not party to it whatsoever, and demanded for fresh start of the entire exercise to get the collective position of the subcounty.

Nominated MCA Lucy Muthoni added her voice, saying the joint memorandum prepared by several wards was not presented due to the commotion and disorder. 

“There was too much confusion. There’s a need for mutual respect and for leaders to listen to each other,” she said.

She further called on the county assembly to consider holding such forums in each ward instead of centralised locations, noting that distance and perceived bias discourage attendance. 

“Public participation should happen within every ward so that people can easily attend and contribute. Holding it in one ward like Ganga is unfair to others,” she said.

The public participation forum is part of a legal requirement to collect residents' input on county budgets, but the fallout at Igwanjau has reignited debate on the structure and fairness of these exercises.