STRENGTHENING CIVIC SPACE FOR REALIZATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS-SDGS IN KENYA – AMKENI WaKENYA
ABOUT KENYA COMMUNITY SUPPORT CENTRE (KECOSCE)
Kenya Community Support Centre (KECOSCE) is a Non-Government Organization (NGO) based on the Coast of Kenya. The organization is registered in Kenya by the NGO coordination Board since September 2006. KECOSCE is dedicated to promoting a just, peaceful,and democratically governed society in Kenya. The organization’s offices are in Mombasa, Kilifi and Tana River counties.
ABOUT AMKENI WA KENYA PROGRAM:
Amkeni Wakenya is a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)-led Civil Society Facility dedicated to empowering citizens to participate effectively in Democratic Governance by providing support through Civil Society Organizations.
ABOUT THIS PROJECT
Civic Space is defined as the set of legal, policy, institutional, and practical conditions non-governmental actors need to access information, express themselves,
associate, organise and participate in public life.
Protection of civic Space is guaranteed by the Constitution of Kenya (CoK 2010) which recognizes Public Participation under Article 10 as one of the National Values and Principles of Governance. Further, constitutional provisions on public participation are clearly spelt out in Articles 69 (1) (d), 118, 174, 184, 196, 201 (a),
221 (5), and 232 (1) (d) among others.
Article 174(c) provides that the object of devolution is to: “enhance the participation of people in the exercise of the powers of the State and in making decisions affecting them.”. Direct participation in the policymaking, law-making, and implementation of development programs is an essential part of modern democracy.
At the County level, Kilifi county has gazetted the County Citizen Participation and Civic Education Act 2020. This legislation is a significant milestone in our efforts to ensure that all citizens can have their voices heard in government decision-making.
The County Government has expressly communicated that this Act is intended to foster citizen participation and civic education in Kilifi County. It aims to facilitate the continued engagement of citizens in the county’s political and civic life, through quality civic education programs and citizen-led participation
initiatives; to ensure that citizens are informed and have skills to participate meaningfully in the decision making processes; it guarantees the right of all individuals.