The Commission on Administrative Justice (Office of the Ombudsman), in collaboration with the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) program, is set to undertake a series of strategic engagements in Siaya County on 3rd and 4th March 2025. These activities are designed to enhance governance, strengthen transparency, and advance climate action at the county level.
The FLLoCA program aims to empower county governments in implementing effective climate response initiatives by fostering inclusive participation, improving institutional frameworks, and promoting sustainable development practices. Through these engagements, the Commission seeks to align its oversight mandate with the broader FLLoCA objectives, ensuring that counties integrate citizen-centric approaches in climate governance while upholding principles of accountability and public participation.
The delegation, led by Chairperson Mr. Charles Orinda Dulo and CEO Mercy Kalondu Wambua, held a high-level meeting with Siaya Governor James Orengo to reinforce collaborative efforts in addressing governance and climate change challenges. This meeting focused on strengthening institutional accountability mechanisms, resolving grievances lodged with the Commission, and enhancing the county’s capacity to effectively manage climate-related concerns.
Discussions also centered on identifying policy gaps that hinder efficient service delivery and exploring best practices that could be replicated in other counties to improve governance in climate-related interventions. The engagement underscored the need for a coordinated approach between county governments and oversight institutions to build climate resilience while ensuring public service integrity. A key component of the visit includes technical support meetings with county teams to bolster compliance with governance frameworks, particularly in the context of climate action and service delivery.
Along with the Commission's leadership, other team members, including Dr. Mary Kimari, Rodney Amollo, Viola Ochola, Wanjiru Kibaki, Amelia Otono, Lilian Mbilo, Eunice Moraa, Edward Opany, and Fidialice Muthike, will provide targeted guidance to the County Climate Change Units, addressing complex grievances and enhancing the efficiency of the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM). Additionally, capacity-building sessions will be conducted to refine data analysis processes, ensuring that grievance trends are systematically reviewed and incorporated into policy adjustments. Strengthening GRM structures aligns with FLLoCA’s goal of promoting locally-led climate governance by ensuring that affected communities have access to responsive and transparent complaint resolution systems.
On 4th March 2025, the delegation from the Commission will further its support by providing technical assistance to county officials responsible for disclosing FLLoCA-related information to the public. Enhancing transparency in climate financing and implementation processes is a critical step in fostering accountability and citizen engagement.
The Commission will also assist in developing a County Grievance Redress Policy, aimed at institutionalizing structured complaint-handling mechanisms within the county government. Additionally, it will support the formulation of Access to Information Laws, ensuring that communities have unrestricted access to vital climate-related information, thereby reinforcing the principles of open governance and participatory decision-making.
The engagements brought together key county leaders and stakeholders, including County Secretary Joseph Ogutu and County Executive Committee Members (CECMs) from various departments.
Notable attendees include Prof. Jacqueline Oduol (Water, Irrigation, Environment, Climate Change, and Natural Resources), Dr. Martin K’Onyango (Health), Dr. Edgar Ouko Otumba (Education, Youth, Gender, and Social Services), Maurice Otieno Mc’Orege (Lands, Physical Planning, Housing, and Urban Development), and Angeline Atieno Oduor (Tourism, Culture, Sports, and Arts).
Their participation underscores the county’s commitment to integrating governance reforms with climate action strategies, ensuring that Siaya County is well-positioned to meet both its service delivery and environmental sustainability goals.