Residents of Vihiga County have launched a grassroots forum aimed at providing a platform for citizens to share their views on governance, policies, and social issues.
The initiative, known as the People’s Assembly, seeks to create an open space where residents can express opinions, engage leaders, and offer input on matters such as service delivery, transparency, and security.
Speaking during the launch in Chavakali, Stephen Chahasi, one of the organisers, said the assembly was formed out of growing concern that citizens were not sufficiently involved in the county’s decision-making processes.
“There is a feeling that the leadership in Vihiga has become detached from the people it serves. We cannot continue to have laws and projects implemented without meaningful consultation with citizens,” said Chahasi.
Some residents expressed concerns that public participation exercises in the county have, at times, excluded certain groups or failed to attract adequate engagement when developing projects, bills, and policies.
The assembly brings together community representatives, civil society members, and local leaders, and is expected to meet twice a week to deliberate on emerging issues. Organisers said elected leaders would also be invited to respond to questions or issues raised during the sessions.
According to Chahasi, the assembly will document public views on proposed laws and policies and submit written memoranda to both the county executive and the county assembly before the passage of such frameworks.
“The People’s Assembly is our way of reclaiming the citizen’s voice. We want a structured and consistent platform where residents can speak, question, and be heard,” he added.
Resident Arafat Athman criticised the county’s recently introduced Grievance Redress and Feedback Mechanism (GRM) Guidelines and Toolkit, claiming that it had not effectively served its purpose.
“The GRM was supposed to help residents lodge complaints or seek redress, but many people do not know how or where to file grievances because there was little public involvement in its development,” Athman said.
The launch follows earlier complaints by residents over what they described as limited engagement during public consultations on the Vihiga County Finance Act, 2025 — a 121-page document that introduced new taxes, fees, and penalties.
Some residents said the 14-day period given for public feedback after the Act’s publication in the Kenya Gazette was too short to allow meaningful review.
“We had not fully understood the Act before being asked to submit our views,” said Graham Were, a resident of Sabatia.
Others cited language barriers, saying interpreters were not provided during public participation forums, making it difficult for elderly citizens to contribute effectively.
“Some elderly residents could not read English and were not offered translations in local languages,” said Jerry Atsiaya.
Residents further claimed that some participants were selectively invited to public forums, which they said undermined inclusivity.
They expressed optimism that the People’s Assembly would offer a more inclusive and transparent avenue for civic engagement and help strengthen public participation in county affairs.
