23/04/2026
The County Assembly Committee on Petitions, chaired by Hon. Josphat Kipkirui, today held two consultative meetings with County Executive departments to deliberate on petitions concerning the Chepcricket Cancer Centre and the decentralization of public participation.
Appearing before the Committee, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health & Medical Services, Hon. Joseph Sitonik, clarified that the County Government has not altered the purpose of the Chepcricket Cancer Centre. He affirmed that the facility remains a standalone project with its own budget, governance, and procurement structures.
Hon. Sitonik explained that the Dr. Joyce Laboso Mother and Child Hospital (MCH) is a separate but complementary initiative, both to be developed within the same 9-acre site at Chepcricket. He emphasized that the Cancer Centre has neither been relocated nor downsized, but will benefit from integration with the MCH, enhancing early detection, referrals, and specialized care, particularly for women and children.
The CECM further noted that public participation for both projects was conducted in line with Article 10(2)(a) of the Constitution of Kenya and Section 87 of the County Governments Act, 2012, and that both facilities are prioritized in the Bomet County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) 2023–2027.
He assured the Committee that the facility will retain the name Chepcricket Cancer Centre, while the MCH will be named Dr. Joyce Laboso Mother and Child Hospital, in honour of the late Governor whose legacy in maternal health and cancer advocacy remains impactful.
In a separate session, the Committee engaged the Department of Administration, Public Service, Devolution and Programs, led by CECM Hon. Justus Maina, on the decentralization of public participation.
The department reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening citizen engagement by expanding participation structures to ward and village levels. While noting that most forums are currently held at sub-county and ward levels due to funding constraints, the department revealed plans to allocate additional resources to enable deeper grassroots engagement.
The County also highlighted the Bomet County Public Participation Act, 2019, which provides the legal framework for citizen involvement, with ongoing efforts to fully operationalize the Act across all devolved units.
On budgetary considerations, the department acknowledged the need for increased funding to support effective public participation while balancing competing development priorities.
Further, the role of ward and village administrators in mobilizing and coordinating public engagement was emphasized, with assurances that capacity-building measures including training and administrative support are being strengthened.