Transparency
Nandi County Governor Stephen Sang has said he is ready to have a conversation with Gen Z as key step towards transparency on how his government is spending public money and resources.
Sang said that the push by the Gen Z for governments both at National and County level to factor their concerns in governance was welcome.
However, Sang denounced chaotic protests that rocked the country recently claiming criminals took advantage of the Gen Zs’ peaceful demonstration to cause mayhem that resulted in looting and destruction of properties worth millions of shillings. “Everyone including Gen Z who wants to exercise their constitutional right to associate, protest or demonstrate, Kapsabet is open but under one constitutional condition of maintaining peace and not disrupting businesses of others,” Sang said.
He revealed that together with the County Commissioner Nandi Caroline Nzwili, they have agreed to engage the Gen Zs on issues raised about projects or development priorities touching both National and County Governments. “We are open for dialogue just tell us which day you want us to meet so that we have a discussion,” he added.
He reiterated that Gen Zs should distance themselves from goons who have now hijacked the peaceful protests. “When you have a Governor and Government that is ready to listen then there is no reason for protests,” Sang said.
The Governor advised the youths not to engage the families of leaders including Members of County Assemblies, Deputy Governor, Members of Parliament or even the Governor at their homes but said they should rather visit them personally at their offices.
“Do not disturb the families of our leaders in their homes please; let’s engage in our offices because we are ready to listen,” he said. Sang encouraged the youths to develop interest in a Finance Bill or budget making process to ensure their issues are factored.
“There are various stages and that in every stage there is a chance for everybody including the Gen Z to have an input to be included in the decision-making process,” Sang revealed. The Governor challenged the youths to ensure they always attend public participation forums during budget making process usually conducted in every ward.
“As you engage the National Government on various agenda, you should also engage us at the County level so you that you understand what we have for you,” Sang said. In consultation with County Assembly, Sang promised to change the law and have Gen Zs represented in every development committee at the ward level to have their concerns addressed.
“We can change the law by first defining who is a Gen Z and have you represented in our development committees at the ward levels,” he promised. Nandi Central Deputy County Commissioner Alfet Jilo Hudulu asked parents, guardians and caregivers to listen to the children and more so Gen Zs because they are informed due to unmatched tech shared information platforms.
Shadrack Tarno, the Nandi County Civil Society representative said that she interacted with a number of Gen Zs and that most of their issues are valid and they can’t run away from them. Tarno said youths push for accountability and transparency at both levels of governments should be listened to and that leaders should demonstrate their commitment in addressing pertinent issues raised.
The leaders were speaking during the inauguration of Kapsabet Municipality Board at the County Headquarters.