Why Mbadi's forum at Jevanjee was genuine public participation

 “Whoever molds public sentiment goes deeper than he who enacts statutes, or pronounces judicial decisions.” - Abraham Lincoln

It was a pleasant surprise seeing the Cabinet Secretary for The National Treasury and Economic Planning John Mbadi engaging the citizens at Jevanjee Gardens, the venue of the Bunge la Mwananchi.

The issues the citizens address at this forum are topical. All that they discuss have bearing on the safety and wellbeing of the country.

They look at the policy actions of the government in light of how far they go in enhancing the safety and wellbeing of the people, and minimizing the risks and dangers that might happen.

That Mbadi walked to the Jevanjee Gardens straight from an interview with a local TV station was an act of courage. It was an act of courage because there is normally no structure, no self-imposed constraint at such forums. People think and speak on issues without fear. This can make a person who is unprepared, trip.

The face-off the Cabinet Secretary had with the “members” of Bunge la Mwananchi was public participation par excellence. It stood out as the most genuine expression of public participation in recent times. It surpassed many of the so-called “public consultations” that rely on formal invitations through newspaper advertisements. What the government ends up having during formal occasions are representatives of civil society, Community Based Organisations (CBOs), non-governmental organisations all of which are financed by foreign interests.

I often find most of the engagements distant and inaccessible to the very people it seeks to engage and who feel the exhilaration and the pain of the public policy issue, and problem the government wants fixed.

Watching Mbadi speak, one cannot help but feel a deeper connection with the public and a feeling that the public felt heard. I haven’t heard complaints that the people the CS met were not representative or the issues they raised with the Minister were off-key.

Today, such situations are rare. Situations where leaders of government informally connect with ordinary citizens.

It wasn’t always like this.

Long before public participation was enshrined in the Constitution, second President Daniel arap Moi’s administration had mastered the art of grassroots engagement.

His administration cultivated a culture where government officials didn’t just sit in offices but went out to the people.

Under the leadership of the Provincial Administration, heads of government departments at the grassroots visited the field on three occasions.

First, on a regular basis. Authorities met the wananchi, mainly in market centres but after the District Commissioner, had toured projects (miradi as they were called), where he held a baraza.

With all the heads of departments present, the residents were allowed to speak first before the District Commissioner spoke. The residents raised issues and problems that hindered their safety and welfare. The District Commissioner then permitted the heads of departments to respond to the issues relevant to their dockets. The District Commissioner was always the last to speak, as the guest of honour.

Here was the government engaging with the citizens. It was through these occasions that the government evaluated the pulse of the citizens on the burning issues and questions of the day.

The District Information Officer, under the auspices of the Kenya News Agency (KNA), was always present to capture the sentiments of the people and the policy positions or actions the government was taking or would take on an issue, a problem or risk facing the community. The officer filed stories to this effect to KNA newsroom at Information House on Mfangano Street for dissemination to Kenya Broadcasting Corporation and other media outlets.

The second occasion when the government got in touch with wananchi was when a government department was celebrating something either peculiar to the district or the nation.

Take, for instance, the education sector. During Provincial Education Days, the Minister would meet students, teachers, and parents on their turf. This was during special occasions called Divisional, District or Provincial education days. During these occasions, officials explained the various aspects of education the government was undertaking to provide education services.

These were not scripted interactions but genuine engagements where the public could voice their concerns directly.

The Minister or his representative, would listen attentively on education matters, performance and issues raised by different leaders including students’ entertainment, the Minister would, at the end, make policy pronouncements informed by the raw, unfiltered conversation of the people.

People went home happy. The minister met headteachers, teacher unions, officials of District Education Boards, area MPs at one locale. He maximized his visits to any region, province or district.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Water, Environment etc had their special days. The government was always on toes—interacting with the people.

Mbadi’s decision to walk to Jevanjee, after a TV show some 200 meters away, was refreshing. It was a reminder that true public participation happens where the people are in open spaces where leaders and citizens can engage freely, candidly, and meaningfully. Not in conference rooms or through newspaper notices.

It is time we reconsider how we define public participation. It should not be a mere formality or a checkbox in governance. It should be a dynamic, ongoing conversation—one that is rooted in authenticity, accessibility, and true representation of the people’s voice.

To do this a structure needs to be in place that informalizes the process as much as possible to make it more authentic.