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{
    "id": 812063,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/812063/?format=api",
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    "content": "regulations. Any other Government institution can come up with regulations based on the objects, principles and guidelines which are given in the Schedule for us to operate as a country that has similar levels of public participation, but each institution depending on its own environment. When we, as leaders, at times go out to the field, people tell us that they would like to have water projects or roads. When we tell them that there must be a process followed by the county government, we get to realize that the process was not inclusive and did not go down to the people. Therefore, there is need for the public to understand the roles and responsibilities of different levels of government and different offices of leadership for them to know where to take their issues. They also need to be engaged in time for them to give their priorities. If you look at what we have put in the Constitution as Kenyans, this Bill cites about 10 different provisions in the Constitution which talk about public participation. That shows how the aspect of public participation is very key when it comes to Kenyans governing themselves. When there is anything to do with the environment, Kenyans need to be consulted and we have that in Article 69. That includes the way Parliament works; the Constitution requires us to be open. That also includes the county assemblies, which are required to be open to the public in order for the public to know what they are doing on their behalf. It is a requirement and we are not doing them a favour. We need to implement that. Even when the public service comes up with policies, the Constitution requires them to do public participation. There must be guidelines for the public to know whether or not public participation was done. People should not be left guessing. We have instances where someone will call a baraza somewhere and give people information on what they intend to do and there is no room for feedback. They will then leave feeling that they have done their work. However, if there is a very clear law like this one, the authorities will know that they have to give information in advance by publishing their public participation programme for the public to know when there will be a public participation exercise. That will help them discuss issues in advance for them to have very clear ideas by the time the relevant body comes around. We have the case of the annual development plan for the counties. When we send the money to the counties, the executive will sit down and look at how much goes to the recurrent and development expenditures. They will also look at how much of that development will go to the wards. Therefore, the time the residents of that ward will know what their estimated budget for that year is by the time they go for public participation. The residents will then be asked what they need done for them. Once they have given their priorities, there must be a mechanism from the county executive, where they will be told: “Yes, we have incorporated your views in the draft development plan and we are going to submit it to the county assembly.” When that is done, they will be sure that their views have been captured, as opposed to the process of going and collecting information, without giving feedback before implementation. In this case, implementation would mean that the document is submitted before the budget. Public participation is not complete if the public will not have been informed. If there will be any change, they should be told that there was a The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}