By Reporter
The Homa Bay County Government has launched its service charter with the aim of improving governance and enhancing the delivery of services to residents.
The County Executive Member for Governance and Devolution, Mercy Osewe, stated that the charter represents the county’s new commitments to the people of Homa Bay.
During the launch, the Homa Bay Government, through Osewe, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with residents, facilitated by the Uraia Trust organisation.
Osewe emphasised the county government’s commitment to delivering services with efficiency, transparency, and accountability. She explained that the charter establishes measurable standards to guarantee effective and timely service delivery.
The charter includes a Public Participation component, where the county government has pledged to promote and facilitate citizen engagement in county activities and governance processes.
The Access to Information section of the charter outlines a framework to strengthen citizens’ access to information, thereby increasing transparency and awareness of county activities.
Other agreements under the signed MoUs include Policy and Legislative Development, Social Accountability, Knowledge Sharing, Technical Support, and Linking Civil Society with Government, among others.
Osewe highlighted that the charter would amplify citizens’ participation by embedding their priorities into county policies and programmes. “Homa Bay Government has now laid a foundation for a governance framework where people are both the centre and the drivers of development. We have formalised our partnership with Uraia Trust to strengthen our social accountability,” Osewe said.
Speaking during the MoU signing in Homa Bay Town, Osewe stressed that the collaboration was not only about adopting best practices but also creating a meaningful platform where residents can contribute to decision-making processes.
Present at the event were County Secretary Bernard Muok, Uraia Trust Director Oliver Waindi, and County Attorney Frederick Orego.
“My department will champion the implementation of the charter and foster a culture of accountability across all levels of government. Monitoring and evaluation will remain our key priority to ensure delivery on promises and to achieve the desired impact,” Osewe added.
Waindi encouraged Homa Bay residents to use the charter as a tool for engagement, advocacy, and collaboration, holding the county government accountable.
The director urged residents to focus on public participation, stating, “It is the only way we can build a responsive, efficient, and inclusive society.”
“We all have a role to play to realise a shared vision for Homa Bay County. We must uphold the principles outlined in the charter to build a county that delivers on its promises to its people,” Waindi said.
Muok described the launch of the charter as a milestone that defines what the residents expect from their county government.
“The launch of the service delivery charter demonstrates a transparent path in governance that the Homa Bay Government has decided to take. The charter makes Homa Bay a unique county because it allows both residents and the government to track projects delivered. We will know what has been achieved and what remains outstanding within a specified period of time,” Muok explained.
