Nakuru youth urged to be present at public participation forums, as county announces dates
A group of Gen Zs rest outside Statehouse Nakuru during the anti-finance bill protest on June 20,2024.
An official notice has been issued by the County Government of Nakuru inviting residents to a public consultative forum in all wards in the 11 sub-counties from Tuesday, April 1 to Friday, April 4.
This initiative by the Department of Finance and Economic Planning is part of the county’s efforts to prepare its budget estimates for the Financial Year 2025/2026.
Shikoh Kihika, Executive Director of Tribeless Youth, says that this is an opportune time for the youth to come out in large numbers owing to 2024 witnessing heightened civic engagement, particularly among the youth, based on the events leading to the June 2024 nationwide protest and the aftermath.
This was driven by concerns over governance, transparency, and accountability in budgetary allocations vis-a-vis implementation, but most importantly, their demand for active involvement in decision-making processes, which one could deduce they had side lined themselves from.
“Youth should show up, exercise their constitutional rights, and, more importantly, be part of the decision-making process regarding how their taxes will be spent. They should identify priority projects in their wards, constituencies, and across the county where they’ll see value for their money,” Kihika says.
She encourages the youth, despite the documents being complex and "bulky," to go through them, as this is the only way they will ensure their money is allocated meaningfully.
Interestingly, she notes that over the years, she has observed a lack of meaningful engagement and a disengaged crowd at these forums.
“Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) have turned budgetary meetings into a circus and a mockery. They hire goons who are paid to create chaos, disrupting the proceedings and booing anyone who offers a contrary opinion,” Kihika says, frustrated, urging the youth to show up in large numbers to create room for more decent voices.
She adds, “When the youth show up, we may see a difference in opinions, action plans, and even more sensible conversations.”
The sessions are set to start at 9:00 a.m. daily for the said period. Project identification forms can be downloaded from the county website or collected from the various ward offices to guide deliberation during the forums.