Paper short abstract:

With corrupt local government leadership in Kenya, citizens strongly motivated to improve pre-school education are trained by VSO Kenya through social accountability to improve their leadership and challenge officials to be more accountable and respond to locally identified needs. (298 characters)

Paper long abstract:

Kenya's good, recently revised constitution provides for leadership from elected and appointed government officials at county level. It also allows for citizens kin counties to take leadership in their communities, suggest their own ideas for its development, and hold government officials accountable to existing laws and regulations.

Many of these regulations are, however, not well observed or implemented: while rules are known, they are "gamed" by the elected and appointed officials. The rhetoric is observed but the reality ignored.

Kenyan CSOs have faced this by building and training local leaders to know their rights and entitlements under the law, and develop the commitment and courage to hold government officials accountable - using techniques of social accountability.

The County of Laikipia had very poor implementation of pre-school education facilities, something considered important by local citizens. VSO in Kenya, working with other Kenyan CSOs has built community leadership in Laikipia that is (a) knowledgeable about the context of the existing poor and corrupt leadership, (b) interested in introducing behaviour and attitudinal change in local government officials so that they behave accountability, and (c) ready to be resolute in holding local government officials accountable to the existing constitution, laws and regulations. This is done through training in social accountability, especially encouraged by the DFID project holder.

The presentation will show the context before the project, its elements, its successes, and its challenges.

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