County governments have been urged to embrace a review mechanism designed by the New Partners for African Development /African Peer Review Mechanism (NEPAD/ APRM) if sustained development is to be achieved.
NEPAD/APRM National General Council Director James Maina said that there was a need to subject the 47 counties to a review in a bid to provide an efficient framework for resolving contentious issues relating to governance and increased public participation.
Maina appealed to counties to embrace the peer review mechanism which is set to begin in March next year for enhanced service delivery to all Kenyans.
The County Review Mechanism (CRM) apart from prioritizing development is also aimed at establishing a workable system of separation of powers with checks and balances.
Speaking in Marsabit during a visit by the secretariat to the county, the Director said CRM would address negative ethnicity, regionalism, gender equality, disability, age and to speed up the realization of the Vision 2030.
During the visit, the secretariat engaged both national and county government officials, civil society groups and members of the public and local leaders to disseminate the Second Country Review Report which was launched by President Kenyatta last year.
Maina described the assessment mechanism as appropriate saying it would allow residents to evaluate their devolved governments as opposed to the current situation where media reports are the only gauge for performance.
By Sebastian Miriti