Principal Secretary Michael Loikenu Lenasalon addresses attendees at the close of the PMC training workshop in Makueni County.
In a significant shift toward grassroots-driven development, local communities are set to have a stronger voice in county projects following the launch of a new initiative by the State Department of Devolution.
The program, which introduces Community-Led Project Management Committees (PMCs), aims to deepen public participation and ensure that development projects truly reflect the needs of the people.
Principal Secretary Michael Loikenu Lenasalon unveiled the initiative during the closing ceremony of a Training for Trainers workshop held at Acacia Resort in Makueni County. He described the PMCs as a transformative approach to community engagement, emphasizing that they will allow ordinary citizens to play an active role in overseeing county projects from planning to completion.
“This is about restructuring how communities are involved and engaged,” Lenasalon said. “The PMCs will ensure that the priorities of wananchi directly inform the projects implemented by counties, strengthening public participation in a meaningful way.”
The newly formed committees will consist of local community members who are either elected or nominated to provide oversight on county projects. Unlike previous systems, where community input was often limited to initial consultations, the PMCs will have access to detailed project documents, including contracts, budgets, and technical plans. This level of transparency is expected to enhance accountability and reduce mismanagement.
Lenasalon pointed to Makueni and Homabay counties as success stories, where similar community-led oversight structures have already made a visible impact. “Where communities are actively involved in monitoring projects, the outcomes are better aligned with local needs,” he noted. “These counties serve as models for others to follow.”
As the training concluded, the PS urged county officials to adapt the PMC framework to their unique contexts, ensuring that the committees are well-structured, inclusive, and effective. “Now that you have been equipped with this knowledge, go back and implement it,” he told participants. “The success of these committees depends on legitimacy, clarity of purpose, and a genuine commitment to serving the people.”
With the nationwide rollout of PMCs now underway, Kenya’s devolution journey enters a new phase—one where communities no longer just witness development but actively shape it.
