Caption: Civil society organizations (CSOs) during a press briefing in Bungoma.
By Timothy Wekesa
BUNGOMA, Kenya (IP)
Civil society groups have raised alarm over what they describe as the deliberate exclusion of citizens from county budget-making processes, warning that the practice undermines transparency and accountability in devolution.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Sylvanus Kasiti of the Civil Society Reference Group (CSRG) said the failure to involve residents comprehensively in budget formulation remains a major barrier to accountability and effective service delivery within devolved units.
“Public participation is not optional, it is mandatory under the Constitution,” Kasiti said. “The failure to involve residents comprehensively in budget formulation remains a stumbling block in achieving accountability within county governments.”
The concerns were raised during a stakeholders’ meeting that brought together civil society organizations from 10 counties to deliberate on governance and citizen participation.
Kasiti warned that civil society groups are prepared to take legal action if the situation does not improve.
“We are ready to move to court to ensure that this process is conducted transparently,” he said.
Linus Ikochel, a human rights activist from Bungoma, questioned the integrity of the current system.
“The selection process for those who attend budget meetings should involve every segment of society. A county budget touches on the life of every Kenyan, so every voice matters,” Ikochel said, adding that narrowing participation to a few individuals undermines the principle of devolution.
Faith Mwangi, an official with CSRG, said the organization is committed to sensitizing communities across the country on the importance of participating in budget-making.
“We have dedicated ourselves to visiting different parts of this nation to carry out civic education and awareness on this issue,” Mwangi said. “The law must take its course to ensure fairness and openness in budget processes.”
She stressed that civic education remains the backbone of accountability and urged county governments to stop treating public participation as a mere formality.
Public participation in budgeting has been a contentious issue since the onset of devolution in 2013.
