Members of various commissions and independent offices have converged in Meru County for their annual conference that seeks to reflect on the role of public participation in governance.
The 7th Conference of the Forum of CCs & IOs aims at engaging the public in assessing the progress made in the implementation of the Constitution, share the successes and challenges in carrying out respective mandates of these oversight institutions and promote public participation in decision making.
This year’s Annual Conference is being held in Meru town, Meru County, from 10th to 12th October, 2018. The theme of the Conference is ‘Public Participation: Pathway to Sustainable Development’.
The rationale of public participation is based on the foundation that the people of Kenya have sovereign power which they have delegated to State actors at the national and county levels. The theme of the 2018 Annual Conference is premised on this fundamental constitutional provision.
Public participation is a tool that ensures transparency of government actions and containment of corruption. People are able to identify with projects that are in line with their needs – a fundamental prerequisite for the achievement of sustainable development.
The Constitution further underscores the importance of public participation in the exercise of the powers of the State in terms of legislation, decision-making and policy-making. It makes citizen participation a central part of Kenya’s governance system and one of the national values and principles. All public processes ranging from policy-making to legislative processes and ultimately decision-making, require the participation of the people of Kenya.
Chairperson, Hon. Florence Kajuju, Vice Chairperson, Mr. Washington Sati, Commissioner Lucy Ndung’u, and CEO, Mr. Leonard Ngaluma, are taking part in the conference. Alongside the conference is a public exhibition being held at the Meru National Polytechnic.
