Civil societies launch 'Okoa Uchumi' manifesto to push for public debt accountability

A consortium of civil society groups has launched a campaign dubbed ‘Okoa Uchumi’; a citizen-driven manifesto aimed at pushing for political accountability and fortifying constitutional safeguards in public debt management.

The ‘Okoa Uchumi’ campaign is geared toward challenging the underfunding of county services to increase government spending on services from 15 per cent to 30 per cent.

It will also vanguard a joint civil society debt campaign to demand debt transparency, debt resolution, and economic inclusivity in Kenya.

Wanjiru Gikonyo, the National Coordinator of The Institute for Social Accountability (TISA) described the campaign as “operation ondoa tumbocracy.”

‘Okoa Uchumi’ intends to achieve its objectives by creating public awareness on Kenya’s economy and debt status, profile and counter untruthful and misleading narratives on Kenya’s economy, as well as advocate and lobby to influence policy and legislative outputs impacting the economy.

“The life of the local mwananchi is not in queue with the amount of money borrowed. We have consequently started a campaign; ‘no food, no elections,” said Wilfred Olal, the convener, Social Justice Centre Groups.

“These politicians should not come to us professing they will deal with hunger after we elect them, rather they should do it now!”

The process of the citizens is to engage political parties and the electorate and hold widespread dialogue to popularise the push for accountability in public debt, canvas citizen feedback and build critical mass support of the campaign demands.