Fahamu Network for Social Justice, a non-government organisation in conjunction with the government of Embu has launched a digital platform for public participation.
Through the digital platform, dubbed Embu Open Governance Interactive Platform the people of Embu will be using their phones for public participation.
When launching the platform, Elisa Meriabe, a staff working with Fahamu, said through the platform the resident can see clearly the projects being run by the county government and the budget allocated to them.
“The digital platform gives residents room for interaction with the county government where they can contribute their views on budget making process and on various projects being run by the government,” Ms. Meriabe observed.
She further said the residents will be able to follow and give their views from initial stage of budget making process to final audit of the completed projects whether they are of any use to the society.
“It is our expectation that once the residents give their views on various issues and projects, through the same platform the county government will give timely feedback,” she noted.
Ms. Meriabe however, noted that the platform will only compliment the normal public participation process.
The Embu Chief Officer in charge of Administration, Muturi Ireri said the digital platform will give public participation a meaning.
Besides that, Ireri said, the platform will help the people of Embu to document and question what the county is doing and gave assurance that the county government will be ready to give timely responses.
“Public participation have been characterised with low turn up of residents and even the few who attend find it hard to understand what is going on due to limited access to the information concerning what is being subjected to public participation,” said Ireri.
He noted through the digital platform those who will be attending public participation forum will be having prior information of what is expected.
By Kimani Tirus
