KENWA Kenya NGO: Enhancing County Governance and Responsiveness

Our Goal

Our goal is to enable county teams to respond selectively and flexibly to new governance opportunities and challenges amidst Kenya’s ambitious decentralization process.

Detailed Activities

1. Understand and Address Fiscal Implications of Revenue Sharing:

• Vertical Revenue Sharing (National to County Governments):
  • Analysis of Fiscal Policies: Conduct thorough analyses of existing fiscal policies governing the distribution of national revenues to counties. Identify gaps and areas for improvement.
  • Advocacy and Policy Reform: Advocate for policy reforms that ensure equitable and sufficient distribution of resources from the national government to county governments.
  • Capacity Building for County Officials: Provide training for county officials on fiscal management and budgetary processes to effectively manage and utilize allocated funds.
• Horizontal Revenue Sharing (Across Counties):
  • Equitable Distribution Models: Develop models and frameworks for equitable revenue distribution among counties, considering population size, economic potential, and development needs.
  • Inter-County Collaboration: Facilitate inter-county dialogue and collaboration to address disparities and promote resource-sharing initiatives.
  • Monitoring and Evaluation: Establish mechanisms for continuous monitoring and evaluation of the revenue-sharing process to ensure transparency and accountability.

1. Strengthen Public Participation and Social Accountability Mechanisms:

• Public Participation Frameworks:
  • Community Engagement Programs: Implement programs that educate and engage communities on their role in governance and the importance of participating in decision-making processes.
  • Participatory Budgeting: Promote and facilitate participatory budgeting processes at the county level to involve citizens in budgetary allocations and expenditure decisions.
  • Feedback Mechanisms: Develop and maintain robust feedback mechanisms where citizens can voice concerns, provide suggestions, and receive responses from county officials.
• Social Accountability Initiatives:
  • Transparency and Open Data: Advocate for the adoption of open data policies at the county level to ensure transparency in governance and public resource management.
  • Citizen Report Cards: Implement citizen report card initiatives to gather feedback on the performance of county services and projects, providing a basis for improvements.
  • Watchdog Groups: Support the formation and capacity-building of local watchdog groups that monitor county government activities and hold them accountable for service delivery.
• Decentralized Service Delivery Projects:
  • Needs Assessment: Conduct comprehensive needs assessments in various counties to identify priority areas for decentralized service delivery.
  • Pilot Projects: Implement pilot projects in selected counties to demonstrate effective decentralized service delivery models, with scalability plans for broader implementation.
  • Capacity Building: Provide ongoing training and support for county officials and service providers to enhance their capacity to deliver quality services at the local level.

Implementation Strategy

• Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with key stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organizations, and community groups, to ensure a multi-faceted approach to governance improvement.
• Research and Data Analysis: Invest in research and data analysis to inform policy recommendations and program designs, ensuring evidence-based decision-making.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Establish a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to track progress, measure impact, and make necessary adjustments to strategies and activities.
• Sustainability and Scalability: Focus on sustainable practices and scalable solutions that can be replicated across different counties to achieve widespread governance improvements.

By addressing fiscal implications, enhancing public participation, and promoting social accountability, KENWA Kenya NGO aims to support counties in navigating the complexities of decentralization and achieving effective governance that responds to the needs of their citizens.