Kenya, Sustainable Development through improved Local Governance

Kenya has a long history of welcoming forcibly displaced people from its neighbouring countries. The country is currently formally hosting over 650.000 refugees and this number still increasing every day due to drought and conflict in neighbouring counties. In response, Kenya is moving towards an innovative integrated settlements approach, where refugees and host communities can coexist more closely and share common services.

Most refugees reside in camps located in Garissa and Turkana counties. This influx of people and demand for services can pose numerous challenges to the host (county) governments. VNG International supports the counties Turkana and Garissa County, specifically the municipalities Dadaab and Kakuma, in taking ownership over service delivery in their delegated functions for both host and refugee communities.

Objective

The programme Sustainable development through improved local governance (SDLG) seeks to empower local governments to shape a more sustainable future for their communities. This entails strengthening the institutional and organizational aspects of local governments, as well as shaping individual leaders in municipalities and society.

The programme focuses on local governments in Kenya and the role they play in the refugee space, with a focus on Turkana and Garissa County and the newly created municipalities of Kakuma and Dadaab. A good governance system enables county governments to effectively address the needs in their communities (both host and refugee) and instils confidence in leaders with regards to their roles and responsibilities.

Approach

At the institutional level, we aim for a strengthened intergovernmental relationship and stakeholder engagement, by examining the legal framework, roles and responsibilities of each level of government, and improving feedback systems for policies and plans at the national government level. Furthermore, at the local government level, we support counties in taking ownership over service delivery and providing municipal services in their delegated functions for both host and refugee communities, including local economic development, by using tools of social accountability and by creating conditions for policies and plans of county and municipality, that best fit the needs of both citizens and refugees.

Results

SDLG Kenya started recently, expecting the following results in the counties of Turkana and Garissa, and Nairobi:

• intergovernmental dialogue on refugee affairs;
• a roadmap for multi-stakeholder coordination;
• promotion of the recognition of county governments in refugee affairs;
• implementation of refugee policies;
• stronger local leaders’ roles on migration issues;
• establishment of coordination platforms;
• support for community outreach on rights and obligations;
• enhanced public participation;
• improved data collection for decision making;
• new business for local economic development.