European Union and partners launch Governance and Devolution Project in Kisumu County

Catholic Organization for Relief and Development (Cordaid),Concern Worldwide (Concern) and Civil Society Organisations Network with financial support from the European Union (EU) have launched a Governance and Devolution project in Kisumu County, Kenya, to promote citizen’s inclusive participation in county planning and budgeting processes. 

Betty Okero of the CSO Network with Kisumu Women MCAs at a forum

The Project, which was launched on Friday March 20, 2015, also seeks to enhance financial transparency in the management of public resources at the County.  

Recent findings of a survey on Devolution and public participation in county budgeting and planning processes conducted by the University of Nairobi’s Institute for Development Studies in November/December 2014, highlights that about 80 percent of Kenyans do not participate in county budgeting and planning processes. The report further indicates that the public have no influence on county decision-making and have no access to information on county budgets, legislation and project Implementation plans.

“The EU devolution project is supporting   County Governments and local communities for transparent and    participatory    decision-making in accordance with the Constitution of Kenya 2010 .” Says Ms. Sunita Kapila, Programme Manager EU Delegation to Kenya.

The project will also support the implementation of relevant enacted laws on devolution in line with the County Government Act 2012, through capacity building of the Kisumu County Government and Non State Actors. 

Ruth Omukhango of Africa Women and Feature Service guides a citizen forum

“Cordaid’s priority is to contribute towards successful devolution in Kisumu and Isiolo Counties. Wewill work with the Kisumu County Government to ensure cost-effective and responsive development strategies and service delivery in accordance with the national standards and norms for public service delivery. The devolved structures are designed to create greater opportunities, responsiveness and accountability to the needs of citizens at the grassroots level.” Says Annelies Claessens, Country Director, Cordaid.

The project proposes to use community conversations, a social transformative approach that galvanizes communities to address the underlying causes of underdevelopment and vulnerability.

“Concern will use a tool called  community conversations to enhance the voice of the most poor and vulnerable  in county planning and decision making . We intend to foster connectivity  between the communities ,village and ward administrators by creating an enabling space for real and informed discussions. Says Wendy Erasmus, County Director, Concern Worldwide. 

Citizens participation saved this Taifa Park in Kisumu from land grabbers

Cordaid in partnership with CSO-Network and CEMIRIDE will implement the Devolution project in Isiolo and Kisumu Counties for three years from January 2015. 

Concern Worldwide jointly with Kisumu Medical and Education Trust (KMET), Community Action Rural Development (CARD) and Pastoralist Integrated Programme (PISP) will implement the project in Kisumu, Migori and Marsabit respectively. This project is funded by European Union.