County Assembly of Nairobi has passed a legislation to create more cohesion between the county government and the citizens. The Neighborhood Associations Engagement Bill, 2015, is geared towards enhancing cooperation and support in the delivery of services.
Governor Evans Kidero said the law establishes a legal framework for engagement between citizens and the county government in waste management, environmental control, and security, among others.
Over the years, residents of Nairobi have organised themselves into neighbourhood associations for their common good, including the pooling of resources to provide security services, ensure garbage collection and generally ensure the habitability and maintenance of the value of their investments and property, oftentimes taking over functions meant for authorities.
However, despite these interventions by citizens directly in service and, sometimes, infrastructure provision, the authorities have not recognised nor rewarded such initiatives even where such residents have continued to pay the respective service charges to the government.
"The bill will create a level playing platform in which the residents' associations and the County Government will engage with the purpose of enhancing service delivery,” said Kidero.
"The bill seeks to ensure recognition of these initiatives; their regulation and their engagement with the county government on the issues that have to do with their objectives as residents associations," added Kidero
This will enable the County Government to not only entrench the principle of participation of the people as required by Article 10 of the Constitution but also enable the regulation of activities of these associations so there is an understanding of the expectations and incentives that are intended for them.
The bill will also guide how residents submit subscription fees to their associations. To be eligible to enter recognition agreement with the County government, the association must be registered as an association under the National Societies Act and should have demonstrated compliance with the relevant national and County legislation relating to registration, regulatory and other requirements.
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