It was refreshing to see National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi engaging citizens at Jeevanjee Gardens, the venue of a recent session of Bunge la Mwananchi. At this forum, citizens discuss matters crucial to the nation’s safety and wellbeing, examining government policy actions through the lens of public interest.

Mbadi’s decision to walk straight from a TV interview to Jeevanjee Gardens demonstrated remarkable courage. These forums are unstructured, with people speaking their minds freely – a situation that could easily unsettle an unprepared official.

The Cabinet Secretary’s interaction with Bunge la Mwananchi members exemplified authentic public participation, surpassing typical “public consultations” announced through newspaper advertisements. Traditional consultations often draw representatives from civil society, community-based organisations, and NGOs funded by foreign interests, creating a disconnect from the very people affected by government policies.

Watching Mbadi speak revealed a genuine connection with public sentiment, with citizens feeling truly heard. Such informal connections between government leaders and ordinary citizens have become increasingly rare in modern governance.

This wasn’t always the case. During President Daniel Moi’s administration, even before public participation was constitutionally mandated, the government had mastered grassroots engagement. Officials regularly left their offices to meet the people in their communities.

Under the provincial administration, government department heads conducted field visits on three occasions. First were regular visits where authorities met wananchi in market centres after the district commissioner’s project tours. During these barazas, residents spoke first about issues affecting their safety and welfare, followed by department heads responding to concerns within their jurisdictions. The district commissioner always spoke last as the guest of honour.

The district information officer, representing the Kenya News Agency (KNA), documented these interactions, filing stories about public sentiment and government responses to community issues and concerns.

The second type of engagement occurred during departmental celebrations. Education-sector celebrations, for instance, brought the Cabinet Secretary (called minister at the time) face-to-face with students, teachers, and parents during divisional, district, or provincial education days. These unscripted interactions allowed direct voicing of concerns, leading to policy pronouncements informed by genuine public dialogue.

Similar models existed in other ministries. Agricultural Field Days and livestock shows weren’t mere exhibitions but vital policy forums where farmers, experts, and officials discussed sector challenges. The ministries of Health, Water, and Environment held comparable events, keeping the government consistently engaged with citizens.

The third type of engagement occurred during crises threatening community safety and wellbeing. The district commissioner and relevant technical officers would promptly appear at trouble spots. If the situation caused widespread damage, the concerned minister would personally visit the scene, demonstrating presence, empathy, and assurance.

Today’s shift toward press statements, facility visits, and exclusive media events often excludes those most affected by government policies. Mbadi’s walk to Jeevanjee Gardens reminds us that genuine public participation happens in open spaces where leaders and citizens can engage freely and candidly, not in conference rooms or through newspaper notices.

We must reconsider our approach to public participation, making it more than a bureaucratic requirement. It should be an ongoing, dynamic conversation rooted in authenticity and accessibility, reflecting the true spirit of democratic governance.

The defunct ministry of information and broadcasting played a crucial role, with information officers in every district publicising government policies and initiatives. This government information and communication service needs strengthening now more than ever, serving as a vital link between the government and its people, ensuring transparent and effective public engagement.

— The writer is a Communication Consultant