The Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research And Analysis Side Event at The 9th Devolution Conference

This afternoon, the State Department for Economic Planning (SDEP), Principal Secretary, Dr. Bonface Makokha, gave the keynote address in a side event organized by the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) at the Homa Bay National School, Homa Bay County.

The session, themed: Advancing Social Equity, Inclusion and Justice through Public
Participation: The Strategic Role of Effective County Governance” took place on the sidelines of the 9th Devolution Conference.

One of the key objectives of the side event is to assess the effectiveness of current public participation frameworks and practices at the county level.

Speaking during the event, PS Makokha emphasized on the importance of strengthening and deepening good governance through Public Participation, reaffirming that citizen engagement is essential for effective governance.

“Today, we gather to reflect on our shared journey in strengthening public participation as a panacea to advancing social equity, inclusion and justice
in the context of devolution.” PS Makokha said.

In addition, PS Makokha reiterated that the SDEP prioritizes public participation, not just to meet constitutional requirements, but to: empower citizens, generate innovative ideas, foster stronger citizen-government relations and improve public service delivery.

The side event provided a platform for open discussions.The conversations centered on identifying strategies to break down systemic barriers in county governance and developing targeted proposals to boost public participation, thereby promoting social equity, inclusion and justice, among other goals.

In attendance were: the Baringo County Governor, Hon. Benjamin Cheboi, the Chairperson KIPPRA, Prof. Paul Wachana, the KIPPRA Ag. Executive Director, Dr. Eldah Onsomu, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, Director General, Dr. Macdonald Obudho, Ag. Economic Planning Secret
aries, Timothy Gakuu and Leah Chirchir among others.