Robert Muli of the Makueni Development Trust (MANDATE) addressing the Media after a a consultative forum held with civil society groups. Photo by Stanley Mumo. 
By Stanley Mumo
Civil society organizations in Makueni County have called for a more structured, inclusive, and objective-driven public participation process in the preparation of the County Fiscal Strategy Paper (CFSP) and budget estimates for the 2026/2027 financial year.
Speaking during a consultative forum held with civil society groups, Robert Muli of the Makueni Development Trust (MANDATE) said the meeting brought together community-based organizations to deliberate on the ongoing public participation exercise and review the CFSP document as presented by the county treasury.
Muli noted that participants were taken through the CFSP by officials from the Makueni County Treasury to help them better understand the contents of the document and identify areas requiring improvement in line with the law.
“We were able to analyze the document and provide recommendations on the legality of the process and highlight gaps that had been experienced in previous public participation exercises,” Muli said.
A key concern raised during the forum was accessibility for persons with disabilities. Representatives from organizations of persons living with disabilities emphasized the need for accessible venues and adequate budget allocations for their sectors.
Civil society groups recommended that allocations made to disability-related programs should not be altered going forward, stressing the importance of protecting funds meant for vulnerable groups.
The organizations also called on the county government to clearly communicate the objectives of public participation forums to citizens before engagements begin.
“For effective public participation, the county must give citizens a clear and specific objective. This will ensure meaningful contributions instead of collecting priorities without proper guidance,” Muli stated.
Additionally, the groups urged the county to deploy competent officers to facilitate the forums, warning that poorly guided sessions could lead to ineffective outcomes and citizen confusion.
The civil society coalition said it aims to complement government efforts by strengthening civic engagement and ensuring the public understands the budget cycle and planning calendar.
Muli further congratulated the county government for receiving an unqualified audit opinion in the last financial year, describing it as a positive step toward accountability and transparency.
“As civil society, we stand ready to make the process better through civic education and continuous engagement with citizens so they can fully understand the budget process and participate meaningfully,” he added.
The forum concluded with a call for enhanced civic education to empower residents of Makueni County to actively engage in governance and development planning
