Civil societies urge Kenyans to take charge in county and national development projects

A group photo of the civil societies drawn from Uasin Gishu county and the government officials after a a capacity-building session organized by Transparency International under the Social Accountability Tupigane Na Ufisadi (TUNU) program in Eldoret

Civil society groups are calling on citizens to actively participate in government development projects especially at the county levelto promote transparency, accountability, and better service delivery.

Speaking during a capacity-building session organized by Transparency International under the Social Accountability Tupigane Na Ufisadi (TUNU) program in Eldoret, Trainer of Trainers Winnie Chelagat emphasized that communities lose their influence when they remain passive in decision-making.

“When citizens stay on the sidelines, they lose their voice in key decisions that shape their lives and that needs to change,” Chelagat said. She stressed that public engagement must happen at every stage of planning, not as an afterthought.

Chelagat highlighted the vital role civil society organizations play in educating citizens about their rights, bridging communication gaps with the government, and fostering honest, open dialogue.

She urged communities to monitor local projects, demand value for money, and hold leaders accountable.

“Accountability starts with us. We must ensure that any project funded by taxpayers is completed to the right standard and without corruption,” she noted. Chelagat added that delays in projects despite payments being issued remain a worrying trend that denies residents essential services.

Youth Voices Push for Transparency

Edwin Gekone from the Youth Empowerment Development Network echoed the call, stressing the importance of understanding how public funds are used. He pointed out that procurement remains a major challenge across counties.

“We still have a lot to do when it comes to procurement,” Gekone said, calling for stronger public oversight in tendering and spending.

Winnie Chelagat, a Trainer of Trainers taking through the participants on the social accountability and contract monitoring. Photo/Kipngeno Mutai
 

Reginah Chumbah, a nominated MCA in Uasin Gishu, said civil societies play a key role in ensuring accountability, warning that corruption is slowly re-emerging.

“Social accountability is crucial in improving services. Everyone has a role to play in enhancing service delivery in our counties,” she stated.

Benchmarking for Better Governance

Participants were encouraged to learn from counties like Baringo, which has become a standout example in strong public participation and community-driven project monitoring. Facilitators noted that such benchmarking visits strengthen communities’ ability to track government performance effectively.

 

Building a Culture of Accountability

Throughout the training, one message came through clearly: citizen involvement drives accountability.

Participants agreed that when communities actively question, track, and engage with county projects and budgets, they strengthen governance and reinforce essential checks and balances.

They showed commitment to push for transparency, monitor procurement processes, and ensure that development projects truly benefit the people they are intended to serve.