Thursday, March 16, 2023 marked the official launch of the School for Community-led Development in Makueni County, Kenya. The day included the signing of a revised Memorandum of Understanding with the governor H.E. Multula Kilonzo Junior, CBS elected in 2022.
The signing was followed by a very inclusive public event featuring remarks by the governor and the Speaker of the County Assembly the Hon. Dennis Mbilu along with civil society representatives, and a ribbon cutting of a building devoted by the government to the School. The first session in the School’s 12-session curriculum will be conducted Friday March 17 by the County Director of Citizen Engagement Zipporah Wambua, MCLD-KE executive director Steve Ogutu and MCLD co-founder John Coonrod.
You can download John’s keynote address
Playlist of videos from the launching ceremony
Steve speaks in units 6 and 8, the Governor in unit 7 and John in unit 10
Background: Kenya’s 2010 Constitution devolved 20% of the national budget to Kenya’s 47 counties, and called for citizen participation in planning and implementation of all county projects and programs. During the first two rounds of devolution, 2014-2022, Makueni County was a leader in making this a reality. However, both the government and civil society recognize that for this to really be sustained, it must transform mindsets and facilitation skills statewide and be institutionalized through legislation. Such a bill is currently in the process of moving towards adoption.