Public participation empowers people to seek genuine growth

Nyeri residents air the concerns during a public participation forum on the plan to impeach Deputy President on October 4, 2024.[Kibata Kihu, Standard]

In her book 'The Challenge for Africa, 2004,' Nobel laureate and environmentalist Prof Wangari Maathai used the traditional African three-legged stool as a metaphor for what she views as the three components of a stable society: sustainable environmental management, democratic governance and a culture of peace.

Drawing from Prof Maathai's analogy, let me focus on the second leg - democratic governance - through the lens of county governments. Importantly, public participation is not only a right but also a core value and principle essential to promoting good governance at the county level.