STRENGTHENING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND CIVIC EDUCATION AS A KEY COMMITMENT IN ACHIEVING OPEN GOVERNANCE.
Public Participation, civic education and citizen engagement is key in achieving devolution and citizen oriented governance. Nandi county is prioritizing on practices that enhance citizen involvement in service delivery. This is achieved through openness, transparency, free access to information, consultation and active engagement through dialogue and partnership
With the recent award to join Open Governance Partnership (OGP), Nandi County is progressing towards a fully fledged citizen oriented governance envisioned on ‘A citizenry empowered through an open and responsive local government’. Nandi has set its commitment on public participation& citizen engagement, open contracting & procurement and is currently developing an action plan towards achieving these commitments.
This progress is steered on by the Nandi County Public Participation and Civic Education Act that was recently adopted and the toll free county call centre (1548) that has offered the best opportunity in getting citizens views . The directorate of public participation and civic education in Partnership with Ministry of Devolution and planning today held a workshop for the key stakeholders across county departments in bid to develop guidelines for successful citizen engagement.
In her address, the CECM for Administration, Public Service and e-Government, Teresa Morogo pointed out that the county is developing guidelines for successful implementation of a comprehensive civic education program reaching out to residents at grassroot level.
The principle of public participation holds that those who are affected by a decision have a right to be involved in the decision-making process. Thus, these developed guidelines will enable the county in the implementation of the Public Participation and Civic Education Act and enhancing citizen satisfaction.