By Dorothy Musyoka
In a significant step towards fostering transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement, Kenya has launched the Fifth National Action Plan under the Open Government Partnership (OGP).
The launch event, held in Nairobi, marked a renewed commitment by the government, in collaboration with its partners, to make governance more open and accessible while empowering citizens with information and opportunities for meaningful public participation.
The Fifth National Action Plan focuses on several key areas, including enhancing government openness, improving public participation, and boosting service delivery.
President William Ruto speaking during the launch he reaffirmed government commitment in collaborating with local and international partners, to build a more transparent governance framework.
“We are working with partners to make the government more open and citizens more informed in our effort to strengthen public participation, improve governance and boost service delivery,” stated President Ruto.
While recognizing the potential of AI and other digital innovations to transform governance and service delivery, the government is also aware of the risks they pose, particularly in terms of disinformation and the spread of fake news that can threaten the foundations of democracy.
The government is putting in place regulations that promote ethical use and responsible innovation
“We are also implementing a regulatory regime that forestalls the abuse of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, which lead to disinformation that threatens our democracy,” he added.
The Open Government Partnership is an international platform that brings together government and civil society leaders to create more transparent, inclusive, and accountable governance systems.
Kenya has been an active participant in the OGP since 2011, and the Fifth National Action Plan builds on the progress made in previous plans by setting more ambitious goals for enhancing open government practices.
The launch of the new action plan signifies Kenya’s ongoing commitment to promoting good governance, enhancing public trust, and ensuring that every citizen has a voice in shaping the nation’s future.