The State Department for Economic Planning through the Kenya Institute of Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) has kicked off partnerships with devolved governments with a view to capacity building county staff on Public Policy Formulation, Monitoring and Evaluation and tree planting.
Speaking during the issuance of Certificates of Certificates of Participation to 60 County government staff after a successful capacity building exercise, Board Chairman Prof. Paul Wachana said that the initiative will help County Government officials to develop better policies in order to strengthen devolution and effective governance.
Wachana said the initiative will be implemented through a cost sharing process whereby Counties will take care of training logistics as KIPPRA caters to the training.
He added that tree planting was a global commitment as much as it is a national initiative aimed at promoting the County’s target of planting at least 50 million trees by 2032.
“The initiative aims at increasing the country’s tree cover from about 12% to 30%”, adding that tree planting is a strategy to combat climate change,’ he said.
The official further urged county governments to allocate more resources to other programs so that they can benefit from programs being offered by KIPPRA.
KIPPRA Acting Executive Director, Dr Ednah Onsomo, reiterated that the major role of the institute is institutional capacity development.
“That’s why for the last week, my team was here to build capacity of the various staff who were available in the county. We were able to offer two programmes and the reason why we are here today is to award the certificates and also ensure that this program is sustained because it is one of our own flagship projects,’ she said.
Dr. Onsomo added that KIPPRA undertakes Research and Evaluation in support of both National and County governments in strategic activities especially policy advice.
“We have consistently worked with both governments, private sector and other stakeholders to ensure that whatever we do across the country is meant to sustain development,” she said adding that the Institute will also be working with the Kenya Forest Services in all counties and regional services to support the tree-growing program which is a target for all the government entities to ensure environmental sustainability,’ she said.
She challenged Busia County to ensure that the environment is safe for all its residents and gives them equal opportunities to have quality life and good livelihood.
“As KIPPRA we work through the State Department for Economic planning and the national treasury to ensure that the national agenda of the government and also for county governments is achieved,’ she said adding the institution is happy to work with counties,” she said adding that they worked with counties to develop the County Development Plans.
The official requested Busia County to put more resources in capacity building programs to ensure improved livelihoods of the locals.
The Administrative Secretary for Economic Planning, Timothy Gakuu said that the Department is mandated to ensure that the country has direction.
Gakuu who represented the Principal Secretary for Economic planning, Boniface Makokha, added that the Department also issues guidelines on the County Integrated Development plans to ensure they align with the vision 2030.
“The vision 2030 was developed through challenging the citizens to try to visualize how the country will be in the next 30 years,’ he said adding tree growing should be a personal initiative
The team managed to plant 5,000 seedlings in Nasewa area in collaboration with the Kenya Forest Services.
By Salome Alwanda
