Project: Youth Engagement and Civic Participation
Title of the Event: Report on Public Participation Forum – Chesumei Sub County
Date(s) and Time: 28th April 2026
Location: Chemundu Chief’s Camp
Organised by: Nandi County Committee
Participants / Target Audience: Community members from various wards, local leaders,
Retizen Organization representatives
Number of Participants Present: Not specified

1.0 Introduction and Purpose
On 28th April 2026, Retizen Organization had the opportunity to attend a public participation forum held at Chemundu Chief’s Camp in Chesumei Sub County. The meeting brought together community members from different wards, local leaders, and sub-county officials to engage in discussions on development planning and budgeting.
The main purpose of the forum was to review the status of projects that had been budgeted for in the 2025/2026 financial year. Participants assessed which projects had been completed, which were ongoing, and which remained pending. The forum also aimed to identify and prioritize projects for inclusion in the upcoming 2026/2027 budget. Additionally, community members were given the opportunity to propose new development projects for their respective wards.

2.0 Overview / Executive Summary
The forum commenced at 11:00 AM after participant registration and lasted approximately two and a half hours. The session was well-organized and participatory, allowing community members to actively contribute to discussions on development priorities.
Participants were grouped according to their respective wards—Kiptuya, Kosirai, Kaptel/Kamoiywo,Lelmokwo/Ngechek, and Chemundu/Kapngetuny—to facilitate focused discussions on localized development needs. The Sub-County Administrator, Mr. Sitienei, moved across the groups to listen to community inputs and provide guidance where necessary.The meeting concluded with a plenary session where groups shared their key priorities, followed by a vote of thanks from local leaders. Overall, the forum ran smoothly and achieved its intended objectives.

3.0 Detailed Description of Activities
The forum began with registration of participants, followed by opening remarks that outlined the objectives of the meeting. Participants were then briefed on the status of projects from the2025/2026 financial year, including completed, ongoing, and pending initiatives.To encourage inclusive participation, attendees were divided into groups based on their wards. Each group discussed and identified priority projects specific to their region. This approach ensured that development needs were addressed at a grassroots level.
During the group discussions, the Sub-County Administrator, Mr. Sitienei, visited each group to engage directly with participants, listen to their concerns, and offer clarification on project implementation and budgeting processes.For example, participants from Kiptuya Ward highlighted several key priorities, including: Renovation of classrooms constructed for Early Childhood Development (ECD) learners, Construction of child friendly toilets with seats for ECD pupils, Improvement of roads and construction of bridges Similar discussions were held across other wards, with each group identifying projects based on their unique needs
and challenges. After the group sessions, participants reconvened for a plenary discussion where representatives presented their findings. This allowed for consolidation of views and alignment on priority areas before finalizing the meeting.

4.0 Participation Summary
The forum recorded active participation from community members across all represented wards.Participants were highly engaged during group discussions, openly sharing their views anddevelopment priorities.
The grouping approach enhanced inclusivity by ensuring that all regions had a platform to voice their needs. Retizen Organization representatives were present and actively participated in the discussions, supporting community engagement and civic involvement.

5.0 Key Achievements and Outputs
The forum successfully achieved its objectives of engaging the community in reviewing development progress and planning for the upcoming budget cycle.
Key achievements included: Increased community awareness of the status of 2025/2026
development projects, Identification of pending and incomplete projects requiring prioritisation, Collection of community-driven proposals for the 2026/2027 budget, Strengthened public
participation in local governance and development planning and Enhanced collaboration between community members and local administration

6.0 Challenges and Mitigation
No major challenges were reported during the forum. The meeting was well-coordinated, and participants were able to engage effectively within the allocated time.
The structured approach of dividing participants into ward-based groups helped manage discussions efficiently and ensured all voices were heard.

7.0 Feedback and Observations
Participants appreciated the opportunity to contribute to decision-making on development priorities within their wards. The interactive nature of the discussions allowed for meaningful engagement and exchange of ideas.It was observed that community members are increasingly aware of the importance of public participation in governance processes. The presence and involvement of the Sub-County Administrator further strengthened trust and transparency in the process.
The meeting environment was orderly, and discussions remained focused, contributing to the overall success of the forum.

8.0 Recommendations / Next Steps
Continued organization of public participation forums to enhance community involvement in
development planning, Provision of clear feedback to communities on the implementation status of
proposed projects, strengthening communication channels to keep residents informed about budget
decisions and project progress, encouraging greater youth participation in such forums to promote
inclusive governance and follow-up on prioritized projects to ensure accountability and timely
implementation