Kisumu County has launched a citizen-based dialogue forum in a bid to enhance service delivery.
The launch presided over by the Governor H.E. Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o is a culmination of the Sub County Chapters held last year where citizens engaged freely with the County Executive at different fora spread across the County. The County Edition therefore brought to the fore issues raised in the Eight (8) Sub Counties and allowing responsible County Executive Committee Members respond real-time.
Huduma Mashinani aims to create a bridge between the people and the County Executive by creating a platform of dialogue and participatory development where citizens can offer feedback on government services, programs and projects.
Speaking as he launched the program, the Governor noted the program provides a formula to enhance service delivery by promoting dialogue and getting honest feedback from the people. He hailed the people of Kisumu for coming out boldly to discuss the development agenda and the implementation process and more specifically acknowledging enormous support by Civil Society and grasstoots Organizations.
Issues raised by the people ranged from delayed or stalled projects, bias in allocation of funds and projects in certain wards, delayed disbursement of bursary and scholarship funds, inadequate staffing in the sectors of health, agriculture and education among others.
Governor Nyong’o also expressed that his government has been an avid supporter of Public Participation as he believes that the cure for much of what ails the society is active citizen participation.
“We must not forget that the effective path of growth and development is to track implementation and engage the population through sensitization of government plans and agenda”.
He reiterated his Government’s commitment in ensuring the program becomes a success by taking the people observations very seriously. He assured residents that all concerns raised at the sub county levels will all be addressed amicably.
He said the feedback from the people will help the County in policy formulation and review of existing policies where necessary based on the peoples recommendations in regards to projects and programs taking into considerations the impact.
In a bid to strengthen public participation, Kisumu County is among the first counties to prepare the Kisumu County Public Participation Policy which has since been passed by the County Assembly. The County is also in the process of developing the Access to Information Policy.
On this front, the Governor encouraged residents to be actively involved in public participation forums moving forward saying it is a year of action on matters development.
Nyong’o also took time to delve into the issue of Own Source Revenue, a critical component in the funding of projects. Kisumu recently established the County Revenue Board which the Governor said its impact is already being felt across the County and appealed to the business community to support the changes in regards to revenue collection. He urged the people to employ the use of the cashless system of payment.
However, he called upon those in charge to be weary of those who might tamper with the system for personal benefit.
With the inaugural County Edition now undertaken, the County now looks forward to the second phase of this program which the Governor announced kicks off immediately. The Department of Public Service, County Administration and Participatory Development has been directed by the Governor to embark on phase two with immediate effect.
Present at the event alongside the Governor was his Deputy Dr. Mathew Owili, Members of his Cabinet, Senior Officials from the National Government and County, as well as representatives of partner organization among others.