Migori: Community Resource and Empowerment Organization (CREAMO) has launched a civic empowerment and capacity-building initiative in Migori County, aimed at strengthening community systems through Bunge La Mwananchi (People's Assembly) structures. The initiative is focused on enhancing civic participation by shifting grassroots assemblies away from political engagements towards development-oriented activities.
According to Kenya News Agency, the initiative is funded by the European Union and is being implemented in partnership with several Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Inform Us, a Nairobi-based organization tasked with monitoring the initiative. The announcement was made by CREAMO Executive Board Chairman Tobias Ogola during a launch event at a hotel in Migori town. The pilot programme will initially be rolled out in two wards within Suna West Sub-County: Oruba Ragana and Wasweta II.
The programme aims to equip members of Bunge La Mwananchi with the necessary tools and knowledge to monitor county projects effectively. Participants will receive training to understand planning documents like the Annual Development Plan (ADP) and County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP), enabling them to track the use of public resources responsibly.
Dorothy Odhiambo, CREAMO's Executive Director, highlighted the importance of using Bunge La Mwananchi as a tool for community engagement. She indicated that Bunge La Mwananchi is well-positioned to be the most effective channel for transmitting civic education and promoting accountability. The project seeks to transform these assemblies from political forums into instruments of change and empowerment.
Charles Osewe, Chairman of the Bunge La Mwananchi-Migori branch, acknowledged the accountability challenges faced by the county. He emphasized that the initiative is not confrontational but aims for collaborative improvement in county accountability and transparency mechanisms. Osewe also highlighted the role of civic education in holding leaders accountable and stressed the importance of leaders welcoming positive criticism for better service delivery and accountability.
The two-day training marks the initial phase of a broader plan to extend civic education and social audit practices across all eight sub-counties of Migori County.