For six months, Baridi Kwa Baridi Women CBO has been part of the Kagua Viongozi na Maendeleo Mashinani Project, an initiative that brought civic engagement and accountability conversations closer to communities across Busia County.
The project came to a close in September 2026 with a stakeholders’ engagement that brought together civil society organisations, civic educators, IEBC, the County Government of Busia, media practitioners, faith-based organisations, youth, women, Persons with Disabilities and other partners.
For us, the closing engagement was more than an end-of-project meeting. It was an opportunity to reflect on an important question: how do we keep citizens engaged when the project cycle ends?
Throughout the implementation period, citizens were engaged on electoral processes, their rights and responsibilities, leadership accountability and participation in development. The project reached 3,457 citizens through civic and voter education and supported 15 ward-level civic educators who have taken these conversations into their respective communities.
The experience reinforced the importance of making civic information accessible and creating spaces where citizens can ask questions, share concerns and engage constructively with institutions and leaders.
Importantly, accountability is not limited to the ballot box. It also involves citizens taking an interest in the development taking place around them; following projects, seeking information, raising concerns when services fall short and participating in decisions that affect their communities.
The project also demonstrated the value of collaboration. Meaningful civic participation requires more than the efforts of one organisation. It depends on communities, CSOs, public institutions, media, civic educators and other stakeholders working together to ensure that citizens have both the information and the platforms needed to participate.
Baridi Kwa Baridi appreciates CEDC for providing a platform that enabled these conversations to take place and all stakeholders who supported the project throughout its implementation.
As Busia looks towards the next phase of its electoral and development journey, the lessons from Kagua Viongozi na Maendeleo Mashinani remain relevant. The responsibility now is to build on the relationships, knowledge and community structures created through the project and ensure that civic engagement remains part of everyday community life.
The project may have come to an end, but informed citizens, meaningful participation and accountability remain a shared responsibility.
Comments are closed