Huduma centres get thumbs up for transparency

Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki said the concept has also contributed to the recent World Bank ranking that put Kenya at position 92 globally in the Ease of Doing Business Index.PHOTO:COURTESY

The Huduma Centre concept has been credited with enhanced accountability and transparency in the provision of public services.

Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki said the concept has also contributed to the recent World Bank ranking that put Kenya at position 92 globally in the Ease of Doing Business Index.

This was the first time in seven years that the country had appeared in the top 100.

Ms Kariuki spoke after she led the Parliamentary Network on a tour of the GPO Huduma Centre in Nairobi to familiarise themselves with its services.

The lobby provides a platform for parliamentarians from 140 World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) countries to advocate for greater accountability and transparency in international financial institutions and multilateral development financing.

During the tour of the country, the lawmakers engaged in discussions with Government officials, the IMF and World Bank teams in Kenya, civil society and private sector representatives and various donors.

The delegation from 20 different countries was led by the Parliamentary Network Vice President Olfa Soukri Cherif and included Kenya's nominated Senator Joy Gwendo and the Head of the Huduma Kenya Secretariat Dennis Mutuku.

"The Jubilee Government's decision to initiate the Huduma Centre Programme was also informed by the changing needs of citizens, fuelled by a more educated and technologically savvy population," said Mr Kariuki.

Recently, the centres received accolades at the recently concluded second Africa Peer Review Meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.