The citizen assembly convened by the Institute of Social Accountability (TISA) and the Okoa Uchumi Campaign has culminated in a series of demands and recommendations aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability in Kenya’s public finance management.
The two-day conference in Nairobi, which brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including citizens, civil society organizations, and development partners, resulted in a joint statement outlining the key findings and calls to action.
“While we recognize the efforts made by the National Treasury and other bodies to avail budget information, we call upon all state agencies to be more responsive to citizens’ calls for comprehensive and broad information on public finance,” stated the joint statement.
The citizen assembly emphasized the need for a comprehensive audit of the fidelity of Kenya’s public debt management over the past 20 years, ensuring adherence to the principles set out in the Constitution and other relevant laws.
“For the state to take advantage of the opportunities present, organized and individual civic capacity must be nurtured in a transparent manner. This is non-negotiable,” the statement continued.
The assembly further highlighted the importance of adopting a human rights-based approach in public finance management, underscoring that transparency and the right to information are anchored in the Constitution and must be upheld.
“Resources must be distributed evenly and utilized responsibly to benefit all Kenyans, especially the most vulnerable in our society,” the statement read.
The citizen assembly commended the various citizen-led efforts in monitoring government initiatives funded by debt and tax revenues, recognizing their impact in addressing the “looting culture” within the government.
“We call on all Kenyans to support such actions in every space so that we can restore our nation,” the statement emphasized.
The assembly unanimously agreed that corruption and poor governance are at the heart of the deteriorating access to public services, reduced development, high debt, and high extractive taxation.
To sustain the momentum, the citizen assembly has committed to holding similar forums across the 46 counties in Kenya, ensuring that the pulse of accountability and transparency is felt at both the national and county levels.
Furthermore, the assembly has pledged to initiate a petition for a comprehensive and performance-based public debt audit starting from the promulgation of the Constitution in 2010, targeting 15 million signatures. In the interim, they have called for a pause in debt repayment pending the completion of the audit.
The citizen assembly’s resolutions serve as a powerful call to action, demanding transparency, accountability, and the realization of the Kenyan people’s aspirations for good governance.
