Monitoring and Evaluation for Development in Kenya: Focus on County Governance

Abstract

This paper seeks to propose monitoring and evaluation method for the County governments in Kenya, which are regarded as a solution to balanced distribution of resources to the grassroots of the Kenyan populace. County governments in Kenya are a new phenomenon having been introduced by the current constitution that was promulgated in the year 2010. This is a need for county governments due to the fact that being a new phenomenon in the governance of the Kenyan resources, the counties need to put in place monitoring and evaluation guide to enable them manage the resources entrusted to them by the national government and the Kenyan people so that the local citizen “mwananchi” can be able to feel the impact on the ground. In February-March 2014, there have been debates in the Kenyan Media i.e. Nation media house, Standard media house, among others both print, audio and visual going on about the management of funds by county governors from various arms of governance i.e. parliament, senate and the general public. Counties having been in existence for only one year, it is time for them to have a method of monitoring and evaluation that will assist them to place the resources where they are needed for the common citizen “mwananchi” to feel the impact of development. The executive committee in the county whose members are the governor, deputy governor and members appointed by the governor and approved by the county assembly, are mandated with managing and coordination of the functions of the county administration and its departments and also to provide the county assembly reports on matters relating to the county. This paper seeks to propose monitoring and evaluation method county governments in Kenya can implement to help in fostering effective use of resources in development of their counties as part of their executives committee mandate of administration and coordination of county activities.

Keywords: Impartiality, Independence, Credibility, Quality, Utility, Ethical Conduct, Transparency, Accountability

JEL Classification: M10, M29, O20