Kisumu: The New Partnership for Africa’s Development African Peer Review Mechanism (NEPAD-APRM) has initiated the validation of citizen feedback on governance in Kisumu County. Officials have stated that this exercise aims to strengthen accountability, improve service delivery, and enhance public participation in devolved governance.
According to Kenya News Agency, the County Peer Review Mechanism (CPRM) has entered its third phase, bringing together stakeholders at the sub-county level to validate findings gathered from citizens during Focus Group Discussions conducted between May and July 2026. The exercise seeks to establish whether the preliminary assessment accurately reflects citizens’ experiences with the implementation of devolved functions, governance, and service delivery at the ward level.
Kisumu Governor Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o welcomed the NEPAD-APRM team and highlighted the importance of the validation process in strengthening feedback mechanisms in a democratic country such as Kenya. He emphasized that citizen participation is essential in ensuring governance systems remain responsive to the needs and aspirations of the people.
The validation exercise includes participants from various groups, such as women, youth, boda boda operators, civil society organizations, traders, persons with disabilities, farmers, and faith-based organizations. Stakeholders are reviewing earlier consultation findings and providing additional feedback before finalizing the assessment reports.
Former Busia Governor and NEPAD-APRM Secretariat Chairman Sospeter Ojaamong stated that the team returned to Kisumu to validate information previously collected from the public on governance. Ojaamong emphasized that the validation process allows citizens to confirm whether their views have been captured accurately and provide additional information where necessary.
The exercise will be conducted across several sub-counties over a week before consolidating the findings for further review. Ojaamong mentioned that these findings would inform a peer review conference in Nairobi, where governors will assess each other’s governance practices, identify gaps, and share best practices.
Boniface Makokha, a peer reviewer for Economic Planning under the National Treasury, noted that the County Peer Review Mechanism provides citizens an opportunity to give constructive feedback to both county and national governments. This feedback, Makokha explained, would enable governments to better understand citizens’ experiences and use the information to improve planning, budgeting, and service delivery.
Ambassador Rukia Subow, a panelist reviewing the findings, said the team would seek feedback from Kisumu residents on whether their views had been accurately reflected in the assessment report. The validation exercise will provide citizens the chance to clarify issues and ensure the final report accurately represents their views.
The County Peer Review Mechanism is a domesticated application of the African Peer Review Mechanism adopted by African heads of state. It offers a platform for counties to assess governance practices, identify gaps, and learn from one another. The CPRM aims to promote compliance with legal provisions, alignment with Kenya’s Vision 2030, and institutionalization of good governance.
The programme had reviewed 12 counties by the inaugural CPRM Summit in August 2024, with a projection of 24 counties to be reviewed by 2025. Lessons from the county peer review process are expected to inform the national conversation on Kenya’s development beyond Vision 2030.
The findings from the Kisumu validation exercise will feed into the October peer review conference, where governors are expected to compare experiences, identify governance gaps, and share approaches to addressing challenges across counties. NEPAD and APRM are key development and governance initiatives of the African Union, focusing on sustainable development and inclusive economic growth across Africa.
