County governments have been urged to embrace public participation in planning and budgeting processes at the local levels to enhance transparency and accountability.
Bungoma County Deputy Governor Hillary Chongwony, who was the chief guest at a regional dialogue meeting in Eldoret town on Sunday, said county governments have a constitutional and legal obligation to make information public, and to engage citizens in planning, budgeting and monitoring of service delivery.
“County leaders must listen more to the citizens and ensure their needs and concerns are reflected in all local development initiatives instead of playing it alone,” he said.
Christopher Finch, senior development specialist at the World Bank, said supporting devolution is one of the key pillars of the bank’s country partnership strategy for Kenya.
He revealed that a technical assistance facility on devolution has been established by development partners in conjunction with the Kenya School Government.
“Kenya’s devolution is among the most ambitious in the world. It is commendable that the country has been able to achieve so much over a short period. Enhancing public participation is widely viewed as a key ingredient in making devolved governments and service delivery work in order to reduce poverty, inequality, and improve the targeting and managing of public resources.”
The regional dialogue attracted representatives from the national government, civil society and senior county officials from Baringo, Bomet, Bungoma, Elgeyo Marakwet, Kakamega, Kisumu, Nakuru, Nandi,Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Vihiga and West Pokot counties who exchanged experiences on how to make decentralised service delivery more responsive and accountable to the public.