Calls for Devolution, Adequate Funding Dominate Commissioning of Ombudsman North Rift Office

 Strong calls to devolve Ombudsman services to the grassroots, adequately resource the Commission, and intensify public awareness dominated the commissioning of the Ombudsman North Rift Regional Office in Eldoret.

Speaking during the ceremony, Commission Chairperson Mr. Charles Dulo, EBS, said the commissioning marked a significant milestone in bringing administrative justice closer to the people of the North Rift and neighbouring regions. He reaffirmed the Commission’s constitutional mandate to promote fairness, accountability, and access to information in public administration.

Mr. Dulo noted that since its establishment in 2015, the Eldoret Regional Office has handled over 3,000 complaints, achieving a 94 per cent resolution rate for admissible cases. He said the figures demonstrate the tangible impact of Ombudsman interventions in improving service delivery and restoring public confidence in public institutions.

He observed that most complaints relate to maladministration, delays in service delivery, abuse of power, and failure to implement lawful decisions. The office, he added, has actively enforced the right to access information through summons, notices to show cause, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, and the issuance of binding orders.

Commending officers at the Eldoret office, Mr. Dulo cited notable successes including the resolution of delayed pension payments, payment of unpaid benefits, issuance of identification documents, securing tax exemptions for persons with disabilities, and compensation arising from compulsory land acquisition. He also highlighted the office’s proactive engagement in public education, stakeholder collaboration, and inter-agency partnerships with county governments and justice sector institutions to prevent maladministration.

The Chairperson further referenced the Commission’s investigation into the First Choice Agency scandal, which exposed systemic institutional failures and led to directives for disciplinary action, regulatory reforms, and criminal investigations. He said the probe reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to protecting vulnerable citizens and restoring public trust.

Vice Chairperson and Commissioner in charge of Access to Information, Ms. Dorothy Jemator, underscored the need for adequate resourcing to support the Commission’s strategy of taking services to the grassroots. She noted that the North Rift Regional Office serves a vast area covering Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Turkana, Elgeyo-Marakwet, West Pokot, Trans Nzoia, Nakuru, Kericho, Baringo, and Bomet counties, presenting significant operational challenges. She called on partners and relevant agencies to support the Commission to enhance county-level service delivery.

Ms. Jemator also revealed that the Commission is undertaking a State of Openness Report, aimed at assessing how open national and county government institutions are in service delivery and in facilitating access to information.

Commissioner in charge of Complaints and Investigations, Hon. Charles Njagua, reiterated the importance of grassroots presence, saying it is key to empowering citizens to understand their rights and hold public officers accountable.

Representing the Governor, Uasin Gishu Deputy Governor Hon. Evans Kapkea welcomed the Commission to the county and conveyed the support of Governors from the North Rift Economic Block. He pledged collaboration with the Commission and urged greater public awareness to enable more citizens to benefit from Ombudsman services. He emphasized the importance of access to information and public participation, particularly on budgets and Bills of Quantities, and called for partnerships to address land, succession, and governance issues.

The Presiding Judge of the Eldoret High Court, Justice Reuben Nyakundi, emphasized the need for consistency, predictability, and ethical processes in dispute resolution. He called for strategic engagement between the Commission and the Judiciary, noting that both institutions serve the Kenyan people and must work together to address corruption and other vices undermining public service delivery.

On behalf of the Rift Valley Regional Commissioner, Elgeyo Marakwet County Commissioner Mr. David Koske welcomed the decentralization of Ombudsman services and urged further devolution to reach all counties. He challenged public officers to adhere to constitutional standards and committed the support of National Government Administration Officers, including the use of public barazas, to upscale awareness of the Commission’s mandate.

The North Rift Regional Office, opened on 1 September 2015, has to date received 3,235 complaints, underscoring its growing role as a critical access point for administrative justice in the region.

The commissioning ceremony brought together stakeholders from constitutional commissions and independent offices, national and county governments, the Judiciary, civil society organizations, law societies, the media, and members of the public.