Residents of vihiga county: have engaged in a public participation forum to deliberate on the implementation of the Ruto-Raila 10-point agenda, raising key concerns affecting development in the area.
According to Kenya News Agency, the forum, which brought together community members, local leaders, and other stakeholders, provided a platform for wananchi to share their views on the broad-based government’s development plans. The 10-point agenda, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in March 2025 between President William Ruto and the late opposition leader Raila Odinga, seeks to promote national unity, enhance governance, and reform public institutions.
Key focus areas include the implementation of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report, the fight against corruption, economic stabilization, and youth empowerment. A team from NADCO, led by Dr. Agnes Zani, attended the forum and underscored the importance of public participation in fostering inclusivity and transparency in governance. The team urged residents to continue engaging in such forums.
Dr. Zani acknowledged the gaps in some areas and emphasized the importance of assessing whether existing systems are effective. Speaking during the meeting, NADCO Implementation Committee Vice Chairperson Javas Bigambo stated that the exercise was aimed at collecting public views to inform the implementation of development programs. He highlighted the concerns raised by residents, including the need for the county government to fight corruption and ensure equitable distribution of resources.
The team noted that residents emphasized the need for equality and inclusivity in development, while farmers called for increased access to subsidized fertilizer. The farmers, however, commended the government for reducing fertilizer prices from Sh7,000 to Sh2,500. Participants also cited poor infrastructure and gaps in service delivery, urging relevant authorities to address their concerns to enhance development in the county.