Lobby groups from Rift Valley Region have decried the low level of public Participation in National Budget process.
The groups under the umbrella Rift Valley Region Budget Hub noted that the move has seen slow pace implementation of projects.
With focus on Water projects in counties in the Region,the lobby that conducted survey revealed several stalled mega projects in the Ministry of water.
The projects include Aror and Kimwarer dams as well as Itare Dam that have had issues of corruption and several court cases.
According to Rift Valley Region Budget Hub,such projects would be successful if citizens participated in the national Budget process.
It’s for this reason that the group has written a memorandum to the National Assembly.
“Low public participation: Generally there is very low public participation in the National Budget process.Apart from residents of Nairobi and few elite groups who have access to digital
mechanisms of presenting their views, a big population is left out of the processes” states the Memorundum.
Through the Memorundum,the lobby wants the National Assembly to facilitate public consultations at the devolved units.
That the National Assembly should consider partnering with County Governments to seek views on
the national budget during the county government-led public participation forums.
In addition,the National Assembly should direct the regional water bodies should to involve citizens in
conceptualization of budget priorities.
There is also need to integrate public participation at all stages of project management.
The lobby groups also want the National Assembly to interrogate the level of details in the budget estimates and task the National treasury to publish more details in line with the global standards for open budgets.
According to them,the budget is a very important tool for fulfilling citizens’ rights, and in this case the right to clean,safe and adequate water.
“We call upon parliament to strictly apply the principles of prudence, accountability and equity as spelt out in Article 201 of the Constitution as they review, deliberate and approve the
Budget Estimates 2021/ 2022.On our part, we will continue to mobilize citizen and CSOs to analyze the budget and provide feedback to the National Assembly and other relevant actors” they stated in the Memorundum.
On the delayed projects,the lobby groups want National Assembly to strengthen oversight on implementation of Water Projects to mitigate the delays and the increasing risk of corruption,fast-track investigation on projects affected by corruption and contractual issues: Itare Dam, Kimawer Multipurpose Dam, Arror.
The lobby also calling on National Assembly to demand for justification on why some projects have been left out of the Budget Estimates 2021/22.
Masese Kemunche from the Rift Valley Region Budget Hub called on members of the press to also aid in ensuring citizen sensitization on the need to participate in national budgeting process.
“As journalists,help us also in passing out this message.Citizens should also take part in national projects” said Kemunche.
