Failure to promote public participation breeds misinformation

Public participation is a constitutional requirement that enables citizens to participate effectively and efficiently in the decision-making and implementation processes. [iStockphoto]

Trust is the foundation on which a citizen's experience is built, and lack of it has dire implications for governments. For government agencies, the trust gap poses a complex problem. Even well-funded public programs can miss their mark if Kenyans don't engage with them.

With the advent of the internet and new technologies, information disorder has become a threat to governance. In this era of fake news, social media channels are being misused by individuals to drive their agenda without considering its adverse effects on the general public.