County governments to participate in peer review mechanism

Planning Principal Secretary Saitoti Torome speaks during a peer review workshop in Homa Bay town. [James Omoro, Standard]

The State Department of Planning has begun an initiative to mobilise county governments to participate in the inter-county Peer Review Mechanism (CPRM) to accelerate economic growth in 47 counties.

The CPRM is a voluntary process in which two counties assess the progress of each other on governance.

The assessment is done to help identify strengths and weaknesses with the aim of promoting economic growth, sustainable development and county economic integration.

Planning Principal Secretary Saitoti Torome said they will approach individual governors after talking to the Council of Governors over counties’ participation in the process.

“We have spoken to Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti who has consented to this initiative. We are also reaching out other governors to make the review a success,” said Torome said.

Speaking during a peer review dissemination workshop in Homa Bay, Torome said the review will entail identification of deficiencies in service delivery and formulation of policies to address the gaps in the leadership of various counties.

Each county government will be reviewed with regards to compliance on legal provisions on public finance management and governance in general.

"Each county will be expected to enhance public participation by incorporating the public to present their views on governance and socio-economic issues. But all these can be enhanced through the peer review," Torome said.

He said the reviews will enhance strategies for tackling corruption in county governments.

The PS further said the county peer review mechanism will protect and promote the interests and right of minorities and marginalised communities.

He noted that the first peer review was carried out in the national government in 2016 had led to the establishment of Huduma Centres across the 47 counties.

The PS said the review also identified corruption as a major obstacle impeding service delivery in the country. He said this enabled them to strengthening of anti-graft agencies.

“We have strengthened anti-graft agencies by giving them more money in the budget and training them further to help curb corruption. This was done after the peer review that was conducted in the national government,” said Torome.

The PS hailed the 2010 Constitution noting that devolution was addressing underdevelopment in previously marginalised parts of the country.

"With the recent resolution of the revenue sharing stalemate in the Senate, counties will now receive funds for development as per their priorities" he said.