Action plan – Nairobi, Kenya, 2025 – 2027

At-a-Glance

Duration

Aug 2027

Date Submitted

21st March 2025

Foreword(s)

Open government is essential to strengthening democracy, building public trust, and improving service delivery. The Nairobi City County Open Government Action Plan represents a bold 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... to 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, and citizen participationAccording to OGP’s Articles of Governance, citizen participation occurs when “governments seek to mobilize citizens to engage in public debate, provide input, and make contributions that lead to m... More in governance. This plan aims to institutionalize open governance principles, ensuring they remain resilient beyond political transitions and drive long-term public sector reforms.

Through a multi-stakeholder approach, this plan was co-created with input from government agencies, civil society organizations, 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 actors, and citizens. Our shared ambitionAccording to OGP’s Articles of Governance, OGP commitments should “stretch government practice beyond its current baseline with respect to key areas of open government.” Ambition captures the po... is to deepen public participation, enhance access to information, promote fiscal transparency, and embed technology-driven governance for a more open and accountable county government.

Successful implementation and monitoring of this plan will require ongoing collaboration between government and non-governmental stakeholders. We commit to:

• Regular stakeholder engagements and joint progress reviews
• Strengthening digital and legal frameworks for open governance
• Expanding access to public data and participation mechanisms
• Ensuring inclusivity for marginalized groups in governance processes

By working together, we will ensure that Nairobi City County becomes a model for open government in Kenya and beyond. We encourage all stakeholders to remain engaged, offer feedback, and hold us accountable as we implement this transformative action plan.

Signed:

• H.E. Arthur Johnson Sakaja
  Governor, Nairobi City County
• Phoebe Mungai
  Country Director, The Oslo Center
  (On behalf of Civil Society Organizations)

Open Government Challenges, Opportunities and Strategic Vision

This subsection details the Open Government Strategic Vision in your local area that should guide the commitments for the action plan period.

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

Nairobi City County envisions a transparent, accountable, and participatory government where citizens, civil society, and the private sector actively engage in decision-making. Open government will strengthen public trust, improve service delivery, and ensure policy continuity beyond political transitions.

Key Goals:

• Institutionalizing Open Governance – Embedding transparency, accountability, and civic engagement in all county policies to ensure long-term sustainability.
• Strengthening Public Participation – Expanding ward-level forums, digital engagement platforms, and inclusive mechanisms to ensure all citizens have a voice.
• Enhancing Digital & Data-Driven Governance – Leveraging 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..., fiscal transparency, and technology to improve public access to information.
• Building Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration – Establishing strong partnerships with civil society and the private sector to sustain collective problem-solving.
• Improving Public Trust & Service Delivery – Ensuring timely access to information, reducing corruption risks, and enhancing efficiency in governance.This vision positions Nairobi as a leader in open governance, fostering transparency, civic engagement, and sustainable reforms

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

Nairobi City County has made significant progress in advancing transparency, accountability, and civic engagement through key open government reforms.

Key Achievements:

• Public Participation Act – Enacted to strengthen citizen engagement in governance, ensuring structured public consultations in policymaking and budgeting.
• Open ContractingA transparent procurement process, known as open contracting, increases competition, improves public service delivery, and ensures governments better value for their money. Technical specifications: C... More & Procurement Transparency – Adoption of Executive Order No. 2 of 2018, requiring proactive disclosure of county procurement data to prevent corruption.
• Smart Nairobi Initiative – Digital governanceAs evolving technologies present new opportunities for governments and citizens to advance openness and accountability, OGP participating governments are working to create policies that deal with the ... More efforts launched to enhance service delivery, automate processes, and improve public access to county services.
• Open Data & Fiscal Transparency – Budget and expenditure reports are progressively published, increasing public access to financial information.
• Strengthening Citizen Feedback Mechanisms – Expansion of ward-level engagement forums and digital platforms to ensure citizens participate in decision-making.
• 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 & Accessibility – Nairobi has improved governance inclusivity by engaging marginalized groups (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, women, and persons with disabilities) in civic processes.

These reforms lay the foundation for sustained open governance, ensuring citizen involvement, transparency, and improved service delivery.

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

Despite progress, Nairobi City County faces key challenges in fully realizing open government principles:

1. Limited Institutionalization – Many transparency and participation initiatives lack formal policies, making them vulnerable to political transitions.
2. Low Public Participation – Only 0.18% of residents engage in public forums due to limited awareness, accessibility barriers, and ineffective outreach.
3. Fragmented & Inaccessible Government Data – Fiscal and planning data exist but are not centralized or user-friendly, limiting public oversight.
4. Weak Multi-Stakeholder Coordination – No structured framework exists for CSOs, private sector, and government to collaborate effectively.
5. Gaps in Digital Governance – Public participation, open data, and feedback tools remain underdeveloped, limiting real-time engagement.

Planned Improvements:

• Develop an Open Government Resilience Framework for long-term transparency and accountability.
• Expand ward-level and digital participationMany governments are creating online mechanisms for citizens to petition, call for action, and participate in making decisions on issues they care about.  Technical specifications: Refers to public p... More to increase citizen engagement.
• Enhance open data integration to ensure accessibility and public trust.
• What are the medium-term open government goals that the government wants to achieve?

Nairobi City County aims to strengthen transparency, accountability, and citizen participation through the following medium-term goals:

1. Institutionalizing Open Government Practices – Develop and implement an Open Government Resilience Framework to embed transparency, accountability, and public participation into county policies.

2. Expanding Public Participation & Civic Engagement – Increase ward-level participation forums, develop digital engagement platforms, and improve accessibility for marginalized groups (youth, women, and persons with disabilities).

3. Enhancing Open Data & Fiscal Transparency – Launch an Open Data Portal to centralize, publish, and standardize county data, ensuring public access to budget, procurement, and urban planning information.

4. Strengthening Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration – Establish a formal engagement framework for civil society, private sector, and development partners to contribute to governance reforms.

5. Leveraging Technology for Open Governance – Implement e-governance solutions, digital service delivery tools, and feedback mechanisms to enhance citizen-government interactions.

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

The Nairobi City County Open Government Action Plan directly supports the Open Government Strategic Vision by embedding transparency, accountability, and public participation into governance structures. It ensures long-term sustainability, citizen engagement, and improved service delivery through key commitments.

Key Contributions:

• Institutionalizing Open Government Principles – The Open Government Resilience Framework ensures reforms are sustained beyond political transitions, securing policy continuity.
• Enhancing Public Participation & Civic Engagement – Expanding ward-level engagement, digital platforms, and accessibility measures empowers citizens, especially marginalized groups, to actively participate in governance.
• Improving Open Data & Fiscal Transparency – Launching an Open Data Portal and adopting open contracting standards ensures real-time access to government data, budget information, and procurement records.
• Strengthening Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration – Establishing a structured engagement model between government, civil society, and private sector stakeholders enhances collective decision-making.
• Leveraging Technology for Governance – Implementing digital governance tools for public participation, data access, and service delivery tracking ensures efficiency and accessibility.

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

The Open Government Strategic Vision aligns with Nairobi City County’s overall policy goals by promoting transparency, accountability, and citizen participation, which are critical for effective governance and service delivery.

Key Contributions to Policy Goals:

• Enhancing Service Delivery & Efficiency – Open governance initiatives improve public sector transparency, reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies, and promote data-driven decision-making, ensuring better healthcare, infrastructure, and urban planning.
• Strengthening Public Trust & Accountability – The strategic vision fosters proactive disclosure of government data, improving citizen oversight in budgeting, procurement, and policymaking. This builds public confidence in governance.
• Encouraging Inclusive Growth & Participation – By expanding ward-level civic engagement forums and digital participation platforms, the government ensures that women, youth, and marginalized groups have an active role in decision-making.
• Leveraging Technology for Governance – The integration of e-governance solutions, open data platforms, and digital feedback systems enhances citizen-government interactions, making government services more accessible and responsive.
• Ensuring Policy Continuity & Resilience – Institutionalizing open government principles safeguards reforms beyond political transitions, ensuring that transparency, accountability, and participation remain embedded in governance.

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.

• Nairobi City County Government (NCCG)
• Office of The Governor
• Department of Public Participation
• Department of Urban Planning
• Department of Environment
• Department of Procurement

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

To ensure effective coordination, Nairobi City County has established structured mechanisms for collaboration between government agencies, civil society, and private sector stakeholders.

Multi-Stakeholder Steering CommitteeThe Steering Committee is OGP’s executive decision-making body. Its role is to develop, promote and safeguard OGP’s values, principles and interests; establish OGP’s core ideas, policies, and ru...

• Provides strategic oversight and meets bi-annually to review progress.
• Includes county officials, civil society, and development partners.

OGP Technical Working Groups

• Sector-specific groups oversee open contracting, public participation, and digital governance.
• Led by county departments with CSO and private sector input.

OGP Secretariat (Governance & Public Participation Dept.)

• Acts as the coordination hub, ensuring alignment with county policies.
• Facilitates inter-agency communication and stakeholder engagement.

Public Participation & Feedback Mechanisms

• Ward-level forums and digital platforms enable citizens to track commitments and provide feedback.

Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Framework

• Regular progress reports, auditsInstitutional and legal frameworks are necessary for providing assurance of the integrity of financial information and of compliance with budgetary rules and procedure. Technical specifications: These..., and independent evaluations ensure transparency.

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.

Nairobi City County has established offline and online spaces to ensure inclusive collaboration in the co-creation and implementation of the OGP action plan.

Offline Spaces:

• Multi-Stakeholder Forums – Regular in-person meetings, workshops, and roundtables with government, civil society, and private sector.
• Public Participation Forums – Ward-level and sub-county meetings to gather citizen input on open government reforms.
• Technical Working Groups – Quarterly sessions for sector-specific policy discussions and implementation reviews.
• Town Halls & Stakeholder Dialogues – Interactive sessions where citizens and county officials discuss governance issues.

Online Spaces:

• OGP Digital Platform & Open Data Portals – Public access to policies, reports, and updates.
• Virtual Webinars & Consultations – Online discussions via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet.
• Social Media & WhatsApp Groups – Used for real-time engagement and feedback collection.
• E-Governance Platforms – Tools for citizen participation and tracking commitments.

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

• To guarantee inclusive representation, Nairobi City County took deliberate measures to involve vulnerable and marginalized populations in co-creation and implementation spaces.

Key Measures:

• Engagement of Marginalized Groups – Partnered with United Disabled Persons of Kenya (UDPK), Kenya Paraplegic Organization, and Youth Agenda to ensure representation of persons with disabilities (PWDs), youth, and women.
• Accessibility in Public Forums – Provided sign language interpretation, Braille documents, large print materials, and ensured venues were wheelchair accessible.
• Ward-Level & Community-Based Engagements – Moved beyond sub-county meetings to ward-level forums, allowing grassroots communities, informal settlement residents, and rural populations to participate.
• Use of Digital & Mobile Platforms – Created WhatsApp groups and social media outreach to reach marginalized groups who may not attend physical meetings.

Who participated in these spaces?

The 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... included government, civil society, private sector, and marginalized groups, ensuring broad representation.

Government Agencies

• Nairobi City County Government (NCCG) – Departments of Finance, Public Participation, ICT, Urban Planning, and Governance led policy and implementation.
• Public ProcurementTransparency in the procurement process can help combat corruption and waste that plagues a significant portion of public procurement budgets globally. Technical specifications: Commitments that aim t... More Regulatory Authority (PPRA) – Provided expertise on open contracting and procurement transparency.

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)

• The Oslo Center, Mzalendo Trust, Civic Voices – Advocated for civic engagement and accountability.
• Local Development Research Institute (LDRI), Development Gateway – Provided policy research and open data support.

Marginalized & Vulnerable Groups

• United Disabled Persons of Kenya (UDPK), Kenya Paraplegic Organization – Ensured inclusivity for persons with disabilities.
• Youth Agenda, Women’s Empowerment Networks – Promoted youth and women’s participation.

Private Sector & Academia

• Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), Hivos – Engaged businesses in governance reforms.

How many groups participated in these spaces?

25

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

25

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

To ensure effective implementation and sustainability of the OGP action plan, Nairobi City County will maintain structured collaboration between government and non-governmental stakeholders through the following mechanisms:

1. Multi-Stakeholder Steering Committee: Bi-annual meetings with government agencies, civil society, private sector, and development partners to track progress and address challenges.
2. Thematic Technical Working Groups: Sector-specific committees (e.g., public participation, open data, and procurement transparency) that meet quarterly to oversee implementation.
3. Public Participation & Citizen Feedback Platforms: Ward-level forums, digital platforms, and open data portals will enable citizens to monitor implementation and provide feedback.
4. Capacity-Building & Training: Workshops and training sessions for government officials, CSOs, and citizens on open governance practices, digital tools, and policy monitoring.
5. Annual Progress Reviews & Reports: Independent evaluations by civil society and academia, with public reports to ensure accountability and continuous improvement.

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

The independent Monitoring Body is a multi-stakeholder oversight group composed of civil society, private sector, and academic institutions, ensuring accountability and transparency in OGP implementation.

Key Members:

Department of Economic Planning:

• Conducts quarterly progress reviews and audits.
• Publishes public reports on milestones and challenges.
• Ensures inclusivity and stakeholder engagement.

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs):

• The Oslo Center – Oversees policy implementation and stakeholder coordination.
• Mzalendo Trust – Monitors public participation and legislative transparency.
• Civic Voices – Tracks civic engagement initiatives.

Private Sector & Development Partners:

• Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) – Supports private sector engagement in governance reforms.
• Hivos – Focuses on open data and fiscal transparency.

Provide the contact details for the independent monitoring body.

• Geoffrey Sianga, Director, siangachege@yahoo.com

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

1. Multi-Stakeholder Progress Review Meetings: Bi-annual meetings with government agencies, civil society, private sector, and development partners to review milestones, challenges, and next steps.
2. Thematic Technical Working Group Sessions: Quarterly sector-based meetings (e.g., open data, public participation, procurement transparency) to track progress and refine implementation strategies.
3. Public Consultations & Feedback Forums: Ward-level, digital and online surveys to engage citizens in assessing progress and providing input.
4. Open Government Monitoring Reports: Quarterly and annual public reports documenting key achievements, areas for improvement, and recommendations for better implementation.
5. Capacity-Building & Learning Exchanges: Workshops and peer-learning sessions between government, CSOs, and experts to strengthen knowledge and share best practices.

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

To ensure effective monitoring and accountability, Nairobi City County will implement the following strategies for regular check-ins with implementing agencies:

1. Monthly Progress Reports: Each implementing agency submits a monthly report detailing milestones achieved, challenges, and upcoming activities.
2. Quarterly Multi-Agency Coordination Meetings: Cross-departmental review sessions to assess progress, resolve implementation bottlenecks, and align strategies.
3. Field Assessments & Implementation Audits: On-site visits and independent evaluations to track practical implementation of open government initiatives.
4. Annual Performance Reviews: Comprehensive evaluation of each agency’s contribution to OGP commitments, with recommendations for improvement.

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

To ensure transparency and accountability, Nairobi City County will use multiple channels to share OGP monitoring results with the public:

1. Open Data & OGP Dashboard: A publicly accessible online platform where citizens can track real-time progress on OGP commitments.
2. Quarterly & Annual Public Reports: Detailed reports on implementation progress, challenges, and next steps, published on the county website and open data portal.
3. Public Participation Forums & Town Halls: Ward-level meetings and stakeholder dialogues to present findings, gather feedback, and discuss improvements.
4. Social Media & Digital Outreach: Regular updates via Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp groups, and SMS alerts to reach a broader audience.
5. Media Engagement & Press Releases: Local radio, TV, and newspaper briefings to communicate key achievements and challenges.

Endorsement from Non-Governmental Stakeholders

• Phoebe Mungai, Country Director,
• Gitungo Wamere, Program Coordinator,
• Victor Nyongesa, Chief Executive Officer,
• Muchiri Nyaggah, Executive Director,
• Elsie Mulindi, Chief Executive Officer,
• Al Kags, Founder,
• Naomi Ng’ang’a, Data and Information Manage,

Commitments

• Open Contracting : Implement an Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system
• Create a centralized, accessible, and integrated open data system
• Enhance public participation and civic engagement
• Institutionalize open government principles

Documents:

• Nairobi City County OGP Committment Letter
• Open Government Partnership Local Action Plan