Community Engagement is Vital for Progress. Based on the sovereignty of the people, Kenya’s 2010 Constitution calls for strong devolution to County Government with active community engagement. Civil Society has a unique role to play in partnership with the government to mobilize and build the capacity for citizens to play their critical role.

MCLD Kenya launched on January 30, 2019 with a focus on three strategic elements: 

1. Focus on the County Level. Since Kenya has decentralized a fair amount, the county level, run by governors, is the strategic platform for community-led development. In addition, several governors and counties have been innovative and early adopters of CLD-aligned approaches. The Kenya chapter is focusing on Makueni County as a model and source of leadership for CLD in Kenya.
2. Produce a Kenya specific framing of CLD, and related evidence as to what works. Across national chapters, the Movement has learned that policymakers insist, understandably so, on evidence and examples from their own countries. How CLD manifests in each setting–with its unique culture, history, geography, politics, and government systems, gender dynamics and more–means that policies, practices and resource allocation must be tailored. 
3. Build the membership base, and create consortiums involving a diverse array of stakeholders to enable more and better community-led development.

Strengthening Devolution: MCLD Kenya has partnered with Makueni, Taita Taveta, Kisumu, and Vihiga Counties to strengthen community-led governance through CLD trainings.

The School for Devolution and Community-led Development: The first of its kind in Kenya and the continent, the School for CLD is a partnership between MCLD and the Government of Makueni County. Citizens, community leaders, civil society professionals, and government officials from across the county join the school to ensure that every person has a voice in decisions that affect their lives. The School is a result of a five-year Memorandum of Understanding between MCLD and the County Government of Makueni, signed on September 30, 2021, to strengthen CLD to tackle development challenges. We have trained 35 government officials and 100+ CSO participants.

Public Participation: MCLD Kenya has also built a partnership with Taita Taveta County to develop its Public Participation Policy.