Baringo governor Benjamin Cheboi has launched a feedback platform to bridge the information gap between wananchi and his government.
Speaking when he officially launched Sikika Baringo feedback platform in Kabarnet town, Cheboi stated that the online service represents his administration’s commitment of transparency, accessibility and efficient public service.
The county boss said the subsite bearing the address sikika.baringo.go.ke will allow residents to exercise their sovereign powers during this age of information and also allow the county government to connect with them for meaningful development ideas.
“As a democratically elected government, we have a duty to inform them on what is happening within the county,” he said.
Governor Cheboi flanked by his deputy Eng Felix Kimaiyo, Elijah Ambaza and Silas Kamanza representation from German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), who are implementing the program, urged residents to use the website to critic his government.
“Sometimes we may not be performing so well in the health department due to insufficient drugs which could be reported. Also, the website will be an avenue where the county public service board can publish job openings for our youth,” he added.
Cheboi said the team mandated to run the website shall at all times provide factual information about county projects and activities for them to know the status of the county and also contribute in offering workable solutions to some of the challenges.
He called for more support from other partners to help in capacity building of staff and technical teams who will be communicating to residents at grassroots level.
Eng Kimaiyo while lauding GIZ and Centre for Enhancing Democracy and Good Governance (CEDGG) who have partnered with county government, stated that the program which is complimented with a recently launched county contact centre with a toll-free number 1554 will ensure smooth running and implementation of projects within the county.
He assured residents that the county administration is keen to listen to some inputs which are key in decision-making processes and was ready to avail information from all the departments so that they are able to know what is happening in their respective wards.
Ambaza noted that Sikika Baringo besides putting the county at par with other top-performing counties in terms of access to information and feedback mechanisms, will also be instrumental in compiling reports to the Commission on Administration of Justice (Ombudsman) and getting awards and recognitions out of that.
The CEO of CEDGG Paul Masese commended Baringo for their efforts in promoting open governance noting that it has already yielded fruits since marginalized areas of the county are now getting the much-needed support because the government is deliberately addressing their concerns.
Masese pointed out that due to effective access to information, all corners of the county are now starting to enjoy quality services.
By Benson Kelio
