Kenyans have deep and longstanding concerns about the ways in which resources have been distributed throughout the country. Many regions and communities felt that they had been excluded by a strong central regime.
The antidote in the 2010 Constitution is, on the one hand, devolution of power to lower levels of government and, on the other hand, an attempt to open up institutions at all levels and increase the opportunities for public participation, as well as greater checks by new bodies, such as the Controller of Budget, the County Assemblies and the Senate.
It follows from this that public participation is in part about aligning the needs and demands of the public more closely with the choices of government officials.
This suggests that public participation must occur at the formulation and approval stages of the budget and planning, when priorities are being set. At this stage, public participation will enhance decision making by bringing information about public needs to the attention of policy makers as they prioritize their spending. This can lead to more equitable distribution of resources.
