Marakwet County Receives Fair Rating in Governance and Service Delivery Assessment

In a bid to assess governance and service delivery levels within Marakwet County, a team from the Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Kenya, under the auspices of the New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD) Kenya, recently conducted a comprehensive evaluation. Led by the Honorable Rtd. Arch. Eliud Wabukala, the lead APRM Eminent Panellist, and Amb. Dr. Samori Okwiya, Chief Executive Officer of NEPAD/APRM Kenya Secretariat, the team embarked on validating the County’s self-assessment report.

The assessment findings, shared with the public at Kapsowar School of Theology and ICRH Hall in Iten, highlighted various aspects of governance and service delivery. Notably, the survey, conducted in October 2023, revealed a commendable performance in key areas such as agriculture, education, health, roads, and public participation. The county’s wealth creation strategy, particularly focusing on cash crop production, received praise from residents.

However, the report also shed light on areas requiring improvement. Departments overseeing ICT, Youth & Culture, Finance, and Water faced criticism, with residents expressing dissatisfaction with their performance. Feedback was gathered from diverse groups including youth, persons living with disabilities, the business community, jua kali artisans, and the general public.

Expressing satisfaction with the overall assessment, county officials, including the Deputy Governor Prof. Grace Cheserek, pledged to sustain the areas of high performance while implementing strategies to enhance performance in underperforming dockets. The commitment underscores the county government’s dedication to ensuring efficient service delivery and robust governance for its residents.

The commendable efforts of the NEPAD/APRM team in facilitating the assessment were acknowledged, with local authorities emphasizing the importance of such evaluations in fostering accountability and continuous improvement. As Marakwet County looks ahead, it remains committed to addressing the identified challenges and delivering on its mandate to serve its constituents effectively.