Action plan – Elgeyo Marakwet, Kenya, 2025 – 2027

At-a-Glance

Duration

Aug 2027

Date Submitted

6th March 2025

Foreword(s)

On behalf of all governance stakeholders striving to improve citizens’ livelihoods in Elgeyo Marakwet County, it is with great pleasure that I present our Open Government PartnershipThe Open Government Partnership (OGP) is a multi-stakeholder initiative focused on improving government transparency, ensuring opportunities for citizen participation in public matters, and strengthen... More (OGP) Local Action Plan (LAP) III. The commitments contained in this plan acknowledges the progressive achievements and challenges encountered since we joined OGP in 2016, being the first county in Kenya to voluntarily do so. Our desire to continuously reform our governance practices bodes very well with the OGP’s principles and values of transparencyAccording to OGP’s Articles of Governance, transparency occurs when “government-held information (including on activities and decisions) is open, comprehensive, timely, freely available to the pub... More, accountability, participation, and technological innovations.

This action plan will accelerate the realization of our plans of automating service delivery processes, institutionalizing joint forums with state and non-state development stakeholders, broadening the inclusionOGP participating governments are working to create governments that truly serve all people. Commitments in this area may address persons with disabilities, women and girls, lesbian, gay, bisexual, tr... More of special interest groups in decision making processes, and enhancing access to information. From the implementation of this action plan, we are confident that we will achieve a higher proportion of citizens accessing government information, reduce perceived level of corruption and improve our Public Affairs Index (PAI) which measures service delivery levels.

Through our formal feedback mechanisms and social media platforms we have noted our citizens’ demand for more openness on how public funds are sourced, spent, disclosed, and impacts on their livelihoods; how public services are delivered; and the need for stronger government and citizens alliances as well as how facilitative decision-making processes can forge collective development interventions. Given the capability of OGP to replicate best governance practices in the local context, we believe the action plan offers a great opportunity to meet these citizen demands. We pledge to sustain the collaborative spirit that we currently have with all partners while being conscious of the transformative outcomes such alliances portent and the sought trust between the government and citizens.

Open Government Challenges, Opportunities and Strategic Vision

What is the long-term vision for open government in your context and jurisdiction?

Elgeyo Marakwet County’s administration focuses on transformative and accountable governance, with nine priority areas aimed at improving residents’ livelihoods. It strives for high standards of service delivery through participatory budgeting, automation, and collaboration with stakeholders, including special interest groups. The county is committed to publishing and disseminating information like service charters, service delivery data, ward factsheets, project feedback, and performance reports to involve citizens in governance processes. Additionally, the county plans to enhance communication and feedback mechanisms, ensuring that governance is transparent, responsive, and aligned with citizens’ needs. Further the county has instituted grievance redress mechanisms including operationalization of the GRM committee and departmental complaints registers. These efforts are designed to promote inclusive and sustainable development through open and citizen-focused governance.

What are the achievements in open government to date (for example, recent open government reforms)?

The county has made significant progress in open government initiatives. Key achievements include:

1. Participatory budgeting: citizens have been actively involved in the allocation of resources through open forums with deliberate targeting of members of special interest groups to ensure representation.
2. Inclusive governance: relations between government, citizens, civil society organizations, and other development actors through collective co-creation and implementation processes has created a culture of collaboration. Example: a quarterly roundtable with the stakeholders chaired by the Governor was initiated to track implementation progress of development programs.
3. Access to information: the established two-way communication through the county website and dedicated SMS and WhatsApp channels has enhanced real time communication and feedback.
4. Budget transparency: publishing of key budget documents as part of its transparency efforts has increased government accountability and civilian oversight. Annual budget transparency index surveys by the International Budget Partnership (IBP) have consistently ranked the Elgeyo Marakwet top in the country in availing its budgets online.
5. Best practice: the county has inspired governance reforms outside of its jurisdiction. Five other counties (Makueni, Nandi, Nairobi City, Machakos and Kakamega) in Kenya have voluntarily joined the OGP having observed the transformation that comes with OGP participation.

What are the current challenges/areas for improvement in open government that the jurisdiction wishes to tackle?

The county government has made progress in promoting open governance and improving service delivery, but significant challenges persist. Poor coordination among government agencies, civil society, and development partners leads to conflicts and resource misuse. While a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) policy exists, it remains unimplemented, causing fragmented reporting. Limited access to information, financial and technical barriers, and inadequate infrastructure hinder public participationGiving citizens opportunities to provide input into government decision-making leads to more effective governance, improved public service delivery, and more equitable outcomes. Technical specificatio... and access to procurement opportunities, especially for special interest groups. The lack of timely updates and centralized information weakens transparency and accountability, while restricted access to legislative proceedings and insufficient digital skills further erode civic engagement. Plans to establish an integrated digital platform aim to enhance transparency, but outdated data and political interference remain obstacles.

What are the medium-term open government goals that the government wants to achieve?

The medium-term goals of the Open Government program are improved governance by enhancing transparency, accountability, and public participation. These goals can further be broken down into expanding open dataBy opening up data and making it sharable and reusable, governments can enable informed debate, better decision making, and the development of innovative new services. Technical specifications: Polici... initiatives, improving public access to information, effective civic engagement, increasing own source revenue management, and increasing openness and integrity in government procurement processes. Elgeyo Marakwet County aims to foster citizen engagement through participatory policymaking and partnerships with civil society, academia, and private sectorGovernments are working to open private sector practices as well — including through beneficial ownership transparency, open contracting, and regulating environmental standards. Technical specificat... More, while promoting digital government services and the use of emerging technologies for efficiency e.g digital monitoring and evaluation. Additionally, the government will seek to strengthen anti-corruption frameworks and foster open innovation to build public trust and drive economic growth.

How does this action plan contribute to achieve the Open Government Strategic Vision?

By promoting transparency in Elgeyo Marakwet county, through enhanced access to information and encouraging public participation through initiatives like participatory budgeting. It strengthens accountability by establishing clear procurement processes and effective revenue management, enabling citizens to monitor public fund utilization. By providing accurate and timely information, the plan facilitates informed decision-making, improving project implementation and responsiveness to community needs. Additionally, it builds trust between the county government and the community and empowers citizens with the knowledge and tools to engage effectively in governance, fostering a more inclusive, transparent, and accountable government.

How does the open government strategic vision contribute to the accomplishment of the current administration’s overall policy goals?

Elgeyo Marakwet County’s administration aims to enhance inclusivity, transparency, and efficiency in governance, aligning with the county’s overall goal of championing citizen-centric development. By ensuring that all voices, particularly special interest groups, are heard, the county fosters inclusive decision-making, leading to better-designed interventions. Openness enhances accountability, ensuring value for public resources, while sectoral stakeholder involvement promotes balanced development. The use of data and service delivery information drives evidence-based decisions, and project feedback loops facilitate early redress mechanisms. Citizen feedback also leads to ongoing reforms, improving governance processes and aligning them with community needs. These actions collectively promote sustainable and citizen-focused development.

Engagement and Coordination in the Open Government Strategic Vision and OGP Action Plan

Please list the lead institutions responsible for the implementation of this OGP action plan.

• Elgeyo Marakwet County Government departments of Finance and Economic Planning and Public Service Ma
• Elgeyo Marakwet Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Network
• Elgeyo Marakwet County Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Consortium

What kind of institutional arrangements are in place to coordinate between government agencies and departments to implement the OGP action plan?

The County OGP coordination committee comprising relevant county departments, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and private sector actors has been established to develop a clear work plan for the implementation of the commitments, monitor progress, and ensure broad consultation and collaboration on OGP related activities. Each commitmentOGP commitments are promises for reform co-created by governments and civil society and submitted as part of an action plan. Commitments typically include a description of the problem, concrete action... has a designated focal point person who will be responsible for reporting on the commitment’s progress, participate in cross-departmental meetings, and ensure that relevant departments’ activities are in line with the action plan objectives. Regular inter-departmental meetings will be held to ensure that departments are aware of respective distinct roles, share information to avoid duplication of efforts, give an update on the status of ongoing OGP initiatives, report on the milestones and challenges faced, and address collaboration needs. The public participation office will monitor and give feedback during the implementation process.

What kind of spaces have you used or created to enable the collaboration between government and civil society in the co-creation and implementation of this action plan? Mention both offline and online spaces.

Elgeyo Marakwet County fosters collaboration between government and civil society through Public barazas (community meeting) and localized ward and sub-county meetings which engage citizens and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in discussions on policy, projects, and governance, while workshops and consultative meetings with CSOs and special interest groups ensure inclusive participation and progress reviews. Development stakeholder forums facilitate collaboration between the government, CSOs, and development partners, aligning efforts with local needs. Online, the county uses its official website to publish updates, while social media platforms promote public engagement. E-government portals allow citizens and CSOs to access data and participate virtually, and WhatsApp and email groups enable real-time communication with government officials and stakeholders.

What measures did you take to ensure diversity of representation (including vulnerable or marginalized populations) in these spaces?

The OGP co-creation processCollaboration between government, civil society and other stakeholders (e.g., citizens, academics, private sector) is at the heart of the OGP process. Participating governments must ensure that a dive... in Elgeyo Marakwet ensured inclusive representation through targeted actions. Special interest groups including women, youthRecognizing that investing in youth means investing in a better future, OGP participating governments are creating meaningful opportunities for youth to participate in government processes. Technical ... More, marginalized and persons with disabilities (PWDs) were represented in the coordinating committee and received direct invitations to participate in public forums to voice their input with regards to areas that enhance their participation. Key informant interviews and focused group discussions with community representatives and CSOs gathered diverse perspectives, while digital platforms expanded access to feedback. Data collection from various groups enabled joint ranking and prioritization of commitments, ensuring that community needs, and interests were reflected in the final actions, fostering a more inclusive and transparent governance approach.

Who participated in these spaces?

In Elgeyo Marakwet County, various groups participated in the co-creation of open government commitments, aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of governance. Local government officials provided technical expertise and policy alignment, while community members contributed insights into their needs and priorities through public forums and workshops. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) spoke on behalf of marginalized voices and facilitated community engagement. Additionally, representatives from the private sector offered market perspectives and innovative solutions, while academics contributed research and evidence-based insights. Youth and student groups also played a crucial role in fostering participation, ensuring that the perspectives of younger generations were captured. This collaborative approach further contributed to transparency and accountability, ultimately strengthening the relationship between the government and its citizens and enhancing inclusivity and good governance.

How many groups participated in these spaces?

43

How many public-facing meetings were held in the co-creation process?

12

How will government and non-governmental stakeholders continue to collaborate through the implementation of the action plan?

A Multi Sectoral Forum (MSF) has been constituted consisting of county government entities and the consortium of CSOs operating within the county to oversee the implementation of the action plan. The MSF will utilize strategies including town hall meetings, sector-specific roundtables, and annual Sector Working Groups (SWGs) to share updates, track progress, align priorities, and address emerging issues in the implementation of the plan. The OGP Secretariat, composed of relevant directorates will centralize communication and streamline efforts, while an online data repositoryAccess to relevant information is essential for enabling participation and ensuring accountability throughout the OGP process. An OGP repository is an online centralized website, webpage, platform or ... will offer real-time access to relevant information, enhancing transparency and evidence-based decision-making. Periodic virtual meetings with youth cohorts will ensure diverse perspectives are represented.

Please describe the independent Monitoring Body you have identified for this plan.

The monitoring body for the Action Plan will consists of consortium of members composed of one expert from a Consultancy Firm, one CSO representative and one leader from the business community. The team will collect evidence to analyze the level of participation during the Action Plan co-creation process and during the implementation phase. They will then disseminate findings and recommendations for the continuous improvement of governance reforms in the county.

The monitoring body will be led by an expert consultant assisted by two members with vast experiences in governance reforms. They will meet after the completions of the co-creation process, and during assessment to keep pace and document status and lessons for continuous reforms.

Provide the contact details for the independent monitoring body.

• Angeline Kimotho, Consultant Victortech Environment Consultancy, Wanguikimotho27@gmail.com
• Kenneth Kimaiyo, CEO, Kenya National Chamber of Commerce, and Industry (KNCCI), Elgeyo Marakwet Chapter, kenmaiyo@gmail.com
• Timothy Kiprono, Programs Support Officer, Institute of Public Finance (IPF), tkiprono@ipfglobal.or.ke

What types of activities will you have in place to discuss progress on commitments with stakeholders?

The government will have a county multi-stakeholder forumRegular dialogue between government and civil society is a core element of OGP participation. It builds trust, promotes joint problem-solving, and empowers civil society to influence the design, imple... which will be a center for engagements. The forum will conduct listening tours, hold regular workshops and roundtable discussions, enabling constructive feedback and ensuring open dialogue. There will be open forums and town hall meetings too, where government representatives and stakeholders can engage directly.  These will be periodic stakeholder consultations to openly discuss progress and challenges. An annual report detailing successes, obstacles, and planned steps will be published. Further, there will be interactive webinars and Q&A Sessions on a quarterly basis. Lastly, there will be feedback forms distributed periodically to gauge stakeholder satisfaction with progress and allow them to share their insights and perspectives too. The forms will be distributed physically and uploaded online for ease of access.

How will you regularly check in on progress with implementing agencies?

Instituting round table quarterly review meetings (scheduled meetings) to assess the implementation progress, generation of implementation progress reports by implementing agencies, conducting periodic visitation to implementing agencies to assess progress as well as setting up feedback mechanisms channels for communication for implementing agencies. Additionally, tracking of key performance indicators for each of the activities being implemented by respective agencies towards assessing implementation of LAP III and establishing a committee of key stakeholders for reviewing implementation progress.

How will you share the results of your monitoring efforts with the public?

The county will publish regular public reports summarizing monitoring findings, progress, and challenges, ensuring these documents are accessible both in print and online. Community forums will be organized to present results directly to citizens, facilitating real-time engagement and feedback. Digital platforms, including the county’s official website and social media channels, will feature infographics and interactive dashboards to make the information engaging and easily digestible. In addition, newsletters and bulletins will be disseminated to keep citizens informed about monitoring outcomes and upcoming initiatives. Collaborations with CSOs will enhance outreach while local media will be engaged to cover findings through press releases and interviews. Feedback mechanisms, such as surveys will be established to encourage citizen input, fostering a two-way communication channel, while workshops will be conducted to educate citizens about the Action Plan and its monitoring process.

Endorsement from Non-Governmental Stakeholders

• Edwin Rono, Coordinator, Elgeyo Marakwet CSOs Consortium
• Regina Kimweno, Coordinator, Elgeyo Marakwet CSOs Network
• Abraham Kurui, Chairman, Elgeyo Marakwet People with DisabilitiesA government is not open unless it is accessible to all, and governments are working to ensure people with disabilities are afforded equitable services and opportunities to participate. Technical spec... (PWDs)

Elgeyo Marakwet County Introductory Profile
County Integrated Development Plan 2023-2027
Local Action Plan – Draft