Coast residents have urged MPs to reject a Bill seeking to dissolve the Coast Development Authority (CDA), warning that the move could derail key regional projects, including the Mwache Dam.
Speaking during a public participation forum in Kilifi County, residents from Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi, Lamu, Taita Taveta and Tana River said scrapping the agency would hurt development and deepen the marginalisation of coastal communities.
The Regional Development Authorities Laws (Repeal) Bill, 2026, sponsored by National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, seeks to dissolve six regional development authorities.
The CDAs include, Tana and Athi Rivers, Kerio Valley, Ewaso Ng’iro North and South, and Lake Basin Development Authorities.
If passed, the National Treasury and Public Service Commission would take over their operations, staff and assets. Proponents argue that the authorities have fulfilled their mandates and that the move would reduce pressure on the national budget.
But the coastal residents want the Bill rejected saying that the CDA has played a key role in regional development and supports communities that remain underserved.
Kwale Civil Society Consortium convener Fakii Omar criticized what he described as rushed public participation forums.
He said MPs must assess the impact of the proposed changes before making decisions that affect communities.
“Decisions on the future of the authorities cannot be made without meaningful public participation and the lived experiences of the people who benefit from them,” Omar said.
He argued that CDA had delivered tangible results and filled development gaps that county governments might struggle to address.
Omar urged lawmakers to reject the Bill, saying it failed to reflect the priorities and aspirations of affected communities.
Samba Sports Youth Agenda chief executive Mohammed Mwachausa warned that the dissolution could disrupt major cross-county projects.
He cited the Mwache Dam and the Malindi Integrated Social Health Development Programme (MSHDIP) as projects that could be affected.
“Opposing this Bill is exactly what we elected our MPs to do. They must look at the transformation CDA has brought to our communities,” he said.
Mwachausa urged Coast MPs to stand with residents, particularly marginalized communities, and reject the proposed law.
Ganze MP Kazungu Tungule, who chaired the meeting, assured residents that their memorandum would be tabled in Parliament.
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