Kitui youth have criticised the national and county government for paying people to attend public participation forums.
Kitui Youth Connect coordinator Kennedy Mutisya and Kitui Civic Organisation coordinator Rogers Kaleve said payments are clouding attendees' contributions.
They said public participation is a civic duty that should not warrant payment to be carried out.
Mutisya and Kaleye spoke when giving their input on the Public Participation Bill 2025 at a forum in Kitui town on Wednesday. The forum was organised by the Attorney General’s office.
“It is unfortunate that we have made it a tokenism process and that is where we have missed the point,” he said.
“It is my view as a young person and a Gen-Z that we should not expect to be paid when we go to public participation forums because that is our civic duty."
Mutisya said there is need to include a clause in the Public Participation Bill that mainstreams virtual engagement in public discussions.
“That would ensure even after in-person sessions, there are opportunities to engage the government or other duty bearers on social media like the X and others," he said.
Mutisya said President William Ruto set a precedent when he engaged Gen-Z on the X platform. He said Kitui county assembly also engages residents on Google Meet and Zoom.
Kaleve said the proposed law seeks to equip the public with adequate understanding of issues.
“It should be such that the government or any organisation carrying out public participation should inform the public about issues to be interrogated,” he said.
Wilfed Mathitu said the law should also commit all elected leaders to participate in public participation forums or face sanctions, including being recalled.
“The law should make it mandatory for all elected leaders from MCAs to MPs to attend public participation to make them part of the decisions,” he said.
Thomas Kibunja from the State Law Office said all the proposals will be scrutinised and considered.
