NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 21 — Head of Public Service Felix Koskei has called for deeper engagement with Kenyans at the grassroots as the government steps up efforts to communicate its development agenda.
Koskei said wananchi should remain at the centre of government programmes, noting that Kenyans elected the administration to provide services, develop the country and address areas where previous interventions may not have worked.
“The centre of all these things that we are doing is Mwananchi. Because Mwananchi elected this government to offer services, to provide services, to develop the country, to turn around what may not have worked well to the better,” Koskei said .
He said the government had a clear development plan through the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which sets out its key priorities.
“Therefore we are very clear on what we are doing since we have a plan. You know the plan is called Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Plan that has each and every element of what this government is intending to do,” he said.
Speaking Friday after meeting members of the Jamii Imara Mashinani (JIM) initiative, Koskei said there was still room for greater engagement with Kenyans to explain government programmes, listen to public concerns and demonstrate the impact of its interventions.
The meeting brought together Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, board chairpersons and directors of various government agencies to mark one year since the JIM caucus was established.
JIM has so far visited thirteen counties and held about twenty-four engagements, mainly focused on taking government services and information closer to communities.
Whole-of-government approach
Flanking Koskei, Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni said the initiative seeks to take government programmes and information directly to communities while strengthening coordination across government.
She said development should be viewed as a shared responsibility involving government, religious leaders, non-governmental organisations, the private sector and the public.
“We want to go to the ground and tell the people the truth,” Muthoni said, urging Kenyans and other stakeholders to work together in advancing the country’s development.
Muthoni said government officials should be able to explain programmes beyond their individual ministries when engaging citizens.
She cited health officials being able to provide basic information on issues such as roads, water and environmental management, saying the approach would ensure citizens receive coordinated information and are connected to the relevant services.
“We do not want when you go to your village and you are asked a question about health, you cannot answer,” she said.
Koskei said CSs, PSs and heads of government agencies would also be instrumental in driving the ‘Beyond 2030’ campaign, which is expected to create space for broader engagement on Kenya’s long-term development agenda.
Koskei also addressed the recently issued government communication circular, saying it is intended to streamline communication across government and ensure official messaging is targeted and reaches its intended audiences.
