Low Public Participation Undermines Governance in Kenya, Survey Reveals

By Melisa Mong'ina 

Public participation plays a vital role in fostering trust and strengthening democracy. Yet in Kenya, many citizens feel excluded from the decision-making processes that directly affect their lives. 

A recent survey by InfoTrak Research and Consultant Limited underscores the shortcomings of public engagement in the country.

Speaking during the presentation of the survey findings, Angela Ambitho, Founder and Group CEO of InfoTrak Research and Consultant Limited, emphasized the importance of public participation in governance. 

She noted that many Kenyans, particularly in relation to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), want greater involvement, including the opportunity to elect the IEBC chair.

“We’ve seen an element where Kenyans are saying they would want to vote or elect the IEBC chair. In response to this, the survey also looked at the issue of public participation,” said Ambitho.

Ambitho revealed that one of the survey’s key questions focused on whether Kenyans believe their voices can influence government decision-making. 

The findings were sobering: 55% of respondents felt their voices had no impact on government decisions, while only 36% believed their input could make a difference. Another 9% were unsure.

“Democracy is government for the people, by the people. Therefore, the voice of the people becomes crucial. In this survey, 55% of Kenyans said they don’t feel their voices can influence government decisions. Only 36% believed they could, and 9% were uncertain,” she explained.

The survey further revealed that 75% of Kenyans had not participated in any public forums or activities related to governance over the past year. 

Only 21% of respondents reported participating in forums on issues such as development planning or budget-making.

“Seventy-five percent said they have not been involved in public participation activities over the past year, and only 21% have taken part in governance forums,” Ambitho stated.

The survey also highlighted significant regional disparities. More than 70% of Kenyans in regions such as Coast, Eastern, Rift Valley, and Nairobi reported no involvement in public participation forums.

“Seventy-eight percent of Kenyans across regions like Coast, Eastern, Rift Valley, and Nairobi denied being involved in public participation forums. So, irrespective of where you look across our regional divide, the majority of Kenyans generally feel excluded from these processes,” Ambitho added.

Among the small percentage of citizens who had participated, the devolved county governments were most frequently cited as conveners of the forums. This indicates that local governments are more active in promoting public participation than their national counterparts.

“The devolved governments are being mentioned more by those who have participated in public forums as the conveners of such activities,” Ambitho noted.

The findings highlight a pressing need for greater national government involvement in fostering public participation. Ambitho identified several barriers preventing effective engagement. 

A key issue raised by focus group participants was poor communication about public participation forums, with announcements often made too late or buried in obscure media channels.

“One respondent from a focus group noted that the reason they don’t participate in these processes is because the forums are rarely announced in advance. They often hear about them only after they have taken place, and sometimes the announcements are made in legacy media or other limited channels,” Ambitho explained.

The survey also shed light on the key issues concerning Kenyans. The high cost of living emerged as the top concern, cited by 51% of respondents. Unemployment and corruption followed, with 36% and 24% of Kenyans respectively expressing concerns about these challenges.

“The majority of Kenyans are very concerned about the high cost of living, with 51% mentioning it as their top issue. Thirty-six percent pointed to unemployment, while 24% highlighted corruption. Over-taxation was mentioned by 23% of Kenyans,” said Ambitho.

Additionally, frustrations with the inefficiencies of the recently introduced Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) were raised. Many respondents expressed dissatisfaction with long queues and bureaucratic hurdles, prompting some to call for a return to the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) if the new system cannot be streamlined.

“The issue of migration from NHIF to SHIF was mentioned by 23% of Kenyans. During focus group discussions, there was a general rallying call to revert to NHIF if the challenges with SHIF persist,” Ambitho noted.

The survey results underscore a significant gap between the ideals of democracy and the lived experiences of many Kenyans. Despite some efforts by devolved governments to engage citizens, the low levels of public participation and perceived lack of influence suggest an urgent need for reforms.

To address this, the national government must prioritize inclusivity by improving communication around public participation forums and ensuring that citizens feel empowered to contribute meaningfully to governance processes. Only then can Kenya hope to bridge the gap between citizens and their leaders, fostering trust and strengthening its democracy.