Marsabit residents urged to give unbiased views without financial incentives during Public Participation forums.

By Samuel Kosgei

Residents of Marsabit County have been urged to express their views freely during public participation forums without being influenced or offered financial incentives.

Speaking to Radio Jangwani, Marsabit County Assembly Budget and Appropriations Committee Chairperson Daud Tomasot said various county departments had been organising public participation meetings and giving small allowances to residents who attended.

He said the practice had made the exercise difficult whenever funds were unavailable.

“I wish departments could go and just collect ideas from the public and avoid this issue of handouts. Sometimes, it makes public participation very difficult for us. People ask us: Why are executive officials giving handouts? Why don’t you give them too?” Tomasot said.

Mr Tomasot further warned that opinions collected during such forums might not accurately reflect the views of the people, as some participants could be motivated by money or deliberately selected to support a particular agenda without considering the wider interests of the community.

He said the situation had also placed county assembly committees in a difficult position, as they lacked a budget to provide incentives to residents attending the forums.