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Lamu County: "From Fragility to Trust: Building Democratic and Peaceful Communities through Participation"

Avatar: Official proposal Official proposal

Building Democratic and Peaceful Communities through Inclusive Public Participation involved the gradual transformation of public participation into a core peacebuilding and governance tool at the Department of Public Service Management in Lamu County, Kenya. 

Initiated in 2020 in a context marked by insecurity, social fragmentation, and low trust between citizens and public institutions, the practice sought to ensure that all communities—especially those historically excluded—could meaningfully influence public decisions affecting their lives.

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The practice combined local traditions of dialogue with formal county planning, budgeting, and service delivery processes. Implemented across wards and sub-wards, it prioritised inclusion of women, youth, elders, persons with disabilities, minority groups, and residents of remote and high-risk areas. Over time, participation evolved from dialogue and consultation to co-creation, enabling communities to directly shape development priorities, project design, and peace initiatives.

Methodologies were adapted to fragile and hard-to-reach contexts through flexible facilitation, targeted outreach, civic education, and context-sensitive logistical arrangements. Communication relied on community forums, local leaders, public meetings, radio, and feedback sessions to ensure transparency and sustained engagement. Evaluation and follow-up were participatory, with citizens validating priorities, monitoring outcomes, and informing continuous improvement.

The practice has contributed to reduced community-level conflicts, increased public trust, stronger collaboration between citizens and government, and more effective implementation of county projects. It has also strengthened administrative coordination and institutionalised public participation as a permanent feature of local governance. By demonstrating how inclusive participation can foster peace, social cohesion, and democratic resilience in a fragile context, the practice offers transferable lessons for other territories facing similar challenges.

For more information visit: https://lamu.go.ke/?s=Public+participation 

https://www.oidp.net/docs/repo/doc1827.pdf 

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Lamu County: "From Fragility to Trust: Building Democratic and Peaceful Communities through Participation"

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