EXPERT COMMENT

JAVAS BIGAMBO: Governors must engage electorate every step of the journey

County bosses should ensure there is continuous public participation

In Summary
  • County bosses should demonstrate to the people that they are making every effort to implement their programmes.
  • Governors may also want to embark on quick projects that are visible to the people, wanted and useful.
Governance expert Javas Bigambo
EXPERT: Governance expert Javas Bigambo
Image: HANDOUT

There is no doubt that governors who have just been sworn in will face a myriad of challenges.

The economy has been battered and cost of living is unbearable for most of the people.

Bridging their aspirations and voters' aspirations and the reality on the ground is therefore going to be very difficult.

The new governors thus need to be forthright and prompt in holding regular conversations with people in their counties through public participation.

They should embrace the process of directly engaging with the public in decision-making and giving full consideration to public input in making decisions.

The engagements should not be a single event but a series of activities and actions by the administration together with the people throughout their term.

There will certainly be challenges in implementation.

If governors face any challenges in fulfilling their pledges, it will be proper for them to let the residents know the difficulties they are going through and how they hope to navigate through the troubles.

That notwithstanding, county bosses should also demonstrate to the people that they are making every effort to implement their programmes.

They can do this through the County Integrated Development Plans.

These plans give an overall framework for development.

They aim to coordinate the work of national and county governments. They help to guide development over a five-year period.

The plans are very instrumental ensuring prudent use of public resources.

The law is very clear that no public funds shall be appropriated outside a county’s planning framework.

Governors therefore need to come up with very practical plans. This is because if the governors develop plans that are extremely ambitious or start very huge projects, the undertakings may not be completed within five years.

Governors may also want to embark on quick projects that are visible to the people.

Those that can be implemented within one or two years so that the people can see some of the strides they are making.

People want to see their governors performing soon after they assume office. There's nothing wrong with two year projects that fill a need and are wanted by the people.

Governance expert spoke to the Star

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