Institutionalize open government principles (KENMS0005)

Commitment ID

KENMS0005

Commitment Title

Institutionalize open government principles to ensure continuity, accountability, and adaptability across political transitions and external disruptions.

Problem

There are challenges in sustaining open government reforms, particularly during political transitions, leadership changes, and external disruptions.

Key issues include:
- Lack of Institutionalized Open Governance Practices – Many transparency, accountability, and civic engagement initiatives lack legal or policy frameworks, making them vulnerable to political shifts.
- Weak Policy Continuity & Implementation – Open government efforts often depend on leadership goodwill, leading to inconsistent implementation and loss of progress when administrations change.
- Limited Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration – Coordination between government, civil society, and private sector actors is not structured, reducing collective problem-solving capacity.
- Low Digital Resilience & Transparency Mechanisms – Governance processes rely on manual, fragmented systems, making data access and public participation inefficient and vulnerable to disruption.

Status quo

Open government reforms in Nairobi City County have not been fully institutionalized, making them vulnerable to political transitions and weak policy continuity:
- Limited Policy and Legal Frameworks – While the county has implemented transparency and participation initiatives, they lack formal policies or regulations, leading to inconsistent application.
- Dependence on Leadership Goodwill – Many open government efforts are driven by individual leaders or donor-supported programs, meaning they often stall or disappear when leadership changes.
- Weak Multi-Stakeholder Coordination – Although government agencies, CSOs, and private sector actors collaborate on open government initiatives, no structured framework ensures long-term engagement.
- Gaps in Digital Governance and Data Accessibility – Existing platforms for open data, fiscal transparency, and citizen engagement are fragmented, underutilized, or inaccessible to the public.

Actions Taken So Far:
- Adoption of OGP Commitments public participation, open contracting, and transparency.
- Launch of Smart Nairobi Initiative to promote digital governance and service delivery improvements.
- Periodic stakeholder engagements with civil society and private sector partners on governance issues.

Action

Institutionalize open government principles to ensure policy continuity, resilience, and long-term sustainability of governance reforms.

Key Actions:
- Develop and Implement an Open Government Resilience Framework – Establish policy and legal guidelines to protect transparency, civic engagement, and accountability beyond political transitions.
- Embed Open Government Principles into County Policies – Ensure all county departments integrate open governance standards into decision-making and service delivery.
- Strengthen Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration – Create a formal engagement framework for civil society, private sector, and development partners to monitor and support open governance efforts.
- Capacity Building for Government Officials ; Civil Society – Conduct training programs to enhance understanding and implementation of open governance practices across county institutions.

Expected Results:
- Sustained open government reforms despite leadership changes.
- Stronger multi-stakeholder engagement to ensure collective oversight.
- More resilient digital governance systems, improving public access to information and transparency.

Overall Objective:
- To institutionalize open governance principles, enhance policy continuity, and strengthen resilience in Nairobi City County, ensuring long-term transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement.

How will the commitment contribute to solving the public problem described above?

This commitment will institutionalize open government principles, ensuring policy continuity and resilience beyond political transitions. By embedding transparency, accountability, and civic engagement into county policies and digital governance systems, it will prevent governance setbacks and improve public trust.

Expected Outputs:
- Open Government Resilience Framework Developed – A policy ensuring long-term transparency and accountability.
- Integration of Open Government Practices – County policies adopt structured transparency and participation mechanisms.
- Multi-Stakeholder Engagement Framework Established – CSOs, private sector, and government collaboration to sustain open governance.
- Enhanced Digital Governance & Data Accessibility – Improved open data platforms for fiscal transparency and citizen engagement.
- Capacity Building for Government & Civil Society – Training programs to sustain and expand governance reforms.

Expected Outcomes:
- Sustained Open Government Efforts – Transparency and participation remain institutionalized despite leadership changes.
- Increased Public Trust & Accountability – Citizens gain confidence in consistent, open governance.
- More Efficient, Data-Driven Decision-Making – Enhanced service delivery and responsiveness.
- Stronger Inclusive & Collaborative Governance – Long-term partnerships strengthen governance resilience.

What long-term goal as identified in your Open Government Strategy does this commitment relate to?

This commitment aligns with Strategic Goal 5 of Nairobi City County’s Open Government Strategy:
"Institutionalize open government principles to ensure long-term transparency, accountability, and resilience in governance."

How This Commitment Supports the Long-Term Goal:
-Embedding Open Governance in County Policies – Ensures transparency, accountability, and citizen participation are permanently integrated into county operations
- Strengthening Policy Continuity– Establishes an Open Government Resilience Framework to sustain reforms beyond political transitions.
- Enhancing Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration – Creates a structured engagement model for CSOs, private sector, and development partners to support governance resilience.
- Advancing Digital Governance & Open Data – Improves data accessibility, fiscal transparency, and civic engagement through modern digital platforms.
- Building Institutional & Human Capacity – Equips government officials, civil society, and citizens with the skills to sustain and implement open government reforms.

Primary Policy Area

Lobbying

Primary Sector

Cross-sectoral, Public Services (general)

What OGP value is this commitment relevant to?