Nyandarua: Nyandarua County Commissioner Abdirisack Jaldesa has highlighted the critical role that National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs) play in achieving the objectives set out in the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) aimed at empowering citizens. Jaldesa emphasized the necessity of government officials in translating policies into actionable information for local citizens through public gatherings known as barazas.
According to Kenya News Agency, Jaldesa pointed out that administrators, ranging from Regional Commissioners to Assistant Chiefs and village elders, engage regularly with the communities they serve. This frequent interaction allows them to not only listen to the citizens’ concerns but also understand their needs through comprehensive assessments. Jaldesa noted that participatory development planning is essential to ensure strategies reflect on-the-ground realities.
The County Commissioner made these remarks during the opening of a two-day forum on Sensitization on Monitoring, Evaluation, and Tracking of National Government Programmes and Presidential Directives in Olkalou, Nyandarua County. He emphasized that NGAOs must create environments where community members feel valued and heard, stating that the sensitization exercise would enhance their reporting standards and ensure a unified government approach.
Jaldesa reiterated that the success of BETA in Nyandarua County and the broader central region, as well as the credibility of the government at the grassroots level, depended on effective local administration and rapid response to observed challenges. He called for collaborative efforts with citizens to ensure equitable distribution of economic development benefits across the region.
Jonah Olomoi, the Regional Director of Government Delivery Service for Nairobi and Central Regions, echoed these sentiments. He described NGAOs and other BETA stakeholders as ambassadors of government projects and programs, urging them to ensure the government agenda reaches the grassroots. Olomoi stressed the importance of collaboration among NGAOs and stakeholders to facilitate smooth implementation of government projects and encouraged transparency in reporting challenges for timely solutions.
The workshop, which concluded on Saturday, gathered national government officials and agencies involved in implementing BETA, focusing on enhancing the execution of government directives and fostering tangible grassroots development.
