By Yoga David
Photos by Adams Claine
The Kisumu County Executive Committee convened for a breakfast cabinet caucus on Friday morning to deliberate on the proposed Kisumu County Access to Information (ATI) Policy.
The session, held at the La Sovereign Hotel in Kisumu was convened by the county department of Public Service, County Administration and Participatory Development under the auspices of the CECM, Mr. Salmon Orimba and Chief Officer Mr. John Oywa.
The meeting provided a platform for CEC Members to review, reflect on, and contribute to the proposed policy framework. It also marked a key step toward strengthening transparency and openness in Kisumu county governance.
Mr. Wilson Nindo, Director of Public Affairs, led the Committee through the presentation of the proposed policy, walking the team through the policy’s background, objectives, and key provisions entailed in it.
Nindo later fielded questions and clarifications from members of the Cabinet, addressing queries ranging from the policy implementation structures, the citizen access and feedback mechanisms.
The session followed a structured agenda that included remarks from the County Executives, the technical working group and the partners. There was also a step-by-step presentation of the draft policy, and in-depth discussions on the next steps.
CEC Members shared recommendations and changes on how the policy could be strengthened to ensure it supports inclusive governance and fosters public trust.
Speaking during the closing session, Chief Officer John Oywa acknowledged that a few steps remain before the policy is finalized. He stated that the department will have a sit down with the Office of the County Attorney to deliberate on the remaining sections of the draft.
Oywa thanked Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o for consistently lending his support to the process and reinforcing the importance of transparency in county operations.
He also expressed gratitude to the partners who provided vital support in the drafting process, noting their role in shaping a policy that aligns with best practices.
The Kisumu County ATI Policy is currently part of a wider efforts by Kisumu County to align its operations with the principles of access, open governance, public participation, and responsive service delivery.
