Anti-corruption committees trained to monitor govt projects through social audits
Achar spoke during a five-day training that brought together members of County Anti-Corruption Civilian Oversight Committees from Kisumu, Siaya and Busia counties.
Kisumu, Kenya - The government is enhancing citizen involvement in monitoring public projects through social audits as part of new measures to boost accountability and fight corruption at the grassroots level. Acting Director of the National Anti-Corruption Campaign Steering Committee (NACCSC), Trufosa Achar, announced this during a five-day training session for County Anti-Corruption Civilian Oversight Committees from Kisumu, Siaya, and Busia counties, according to a report in The Star.
The training aimed to equip committee members with practical skills for conducting social audits of government projects to assess whether they are delivering intended benefits to local communities. Achar emphasized the importance of citizen voices in the audit process, stating, "We want to hear citizen voices with regards to how these projects have benefited them." The committees, composed of ordinary Kenyans representing their respective communities, are strategically positioned to capture residents' concerns, she added.
The government has established such oversight committees in all 47 counties, involving local community members and sub-county representatives. These committees will also play a crucial role in documenting community concerns regarding government projects. Mohamed Mwabudzo, Kisumu County Commissioner, echoed Achar's sentiments, stressing the need for collaboration between the government and citizens in combating corruption through civic education and community participation.
The training initiative, part of a larger governance program by the Attorney General and the State Department for Justice, along with the German development agency GIZ, aims to strengthen citizen participation in public accountability and improve transparency in government project implementation.
Written by urgent.news from Capital FM Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
