Residents of Malava Sub-county have overwhelmingly welcomed the decision to upgrade Malava into a municipality and upgrade development in it during a public participation forum held at St. Teresa Hall.
Malava Municipality was initially set to comprise three wards Chemuche, Butali Chegulo, and Mugai-Shirugu. However, residents unanimously resolved that additional wards, East Kabras, South Kabras, Manda Shivanga, and Lubao Market, should be incorporated into the municipality. They further proposed that Lubao Market be removed from Kakamega Municipality and integrated into Malava Municipality to prevent residents from being subjected to double taxation.

The host MCA, Geoffrey Sikolia, urged the new municipality to establish a designated dumping site to curb rampant littering. He noted that despite the presence of Kazi Mashinani workers who regularly clean the town, the absence of a proper disposal site has led residents to dump waste along riverbanks and in nearby forest acts that contravene environmental laws.
He emphasized that resolutions made during last public participation should be fully implemented and not remain merely documented proceedings. The MCA also called contractors to repair and maintain roads used as diversions before allowing vehicles to use them. Citing the ongoing construction of the Samitsi Road, he urged that by the end of the contract period, key roads such as Malava–K Hospital Road and Machinjioni Road should be properly maintained.
Residents highlighted several cross-cutting issues affecting the sub-county, particularly the lack of street lighting on major roads. They proposed the installation of street lights along Forest to Msalaba, Malava–Malanga, Malava–Forest Lodge, Isanjiro, Notre Dame routes to enhance security. These areas, are often used as hideouts by criminals.
Participants expressed concern over the poor state of roads within Malava town, describing them as dilapidated and poorly drained. They observed that the town becomes impassable during rainy seasons and called for the upgrading and tarmacking of major feeder roads to improve accessibility.

Among the roads proposed for tarmacking Shitirira–Msalaba , Shivikhwa Holiday, and Malava K–Total Residents also recommended opening up a road network through the forest from Malava K to Forest Lodge, complete with street lighting, to reduce criminal hideouts.
In addition, residents emphasized the need for proper physical planning of Malava town to guide its growth as a municipality. They called for structured urban planning, clear zoning of residential and commercial areas, and the construction of modern roundabouts at key junctions to ease traffic congestion and improve road safety. They noted that with the expected expansion of the municipality, proper planning would prevent future disorder and ensure sustainable development.

They called for the construction of a modern bus park, public toilets to discourage open defecation in nearby forests, renovation of boda boda sheds, and prioritization of an improved drainage system within the town.
Residents resolved that land should be purchased within Malava town for the construction of a modern police station, noting that Imbaikalo Police Station is more developed than the current Kabras Police Station. The MCAs present agreed to engage the area Member of Parliament to support the acquisition of land for this purpose.
They also emphasized the need to maintain all feeder roads and upgrade Malava Hospital to Level 5 status rather than downgrading it. they called on both the national and county governments to reclaim public land currently occupied illegally, citing Chegulo Market as an example where government assets are being misused for private purposes.

Lawrence Mukoyani Toli, Chief Officer for Sports, Youth, and Library Services, thanked residents for participating in shaping the future of Malava Municipality. He stressed that development requires proper infrastructure and urged residents to be prepared for reasonable taxation to support growth, while cautioning the municipality against over-taxing citizens. He also encouraged equitable development across all wards.
Jackline Masicha assured residents that the county government would fast-track development projects in Malava. She cited the Governor’s Roads Rehabilitation Initiative (RRI), which aims to improve most feeder roads across the region.

The meeting also marked the introduction of the new Malava Municipality Manager, Joseph Wafula Mikangi, who replaces acting manager Kulova msafiri.
Other leaders present included county and national government representatives, MCAs, Alfred Saidi Khasavuli (Advisor on Strategy and Governance in the Office of the Governor), and Dan Pepela, CEO of KDDC.
Residents concluded the forum by vowing to ensure that all the recommendations made are implemented for the betterment and orderly growth of Malava Municipality.