Citizens have a right to participate in the making of decisions that affect their lives. Being open and transparent, and involving those affected in decision-making is key to ensuring people participate in measures designed to protect their own health and that of the wider population. We have noted with great concern, gaps in transparency, and accountability by government agencies charged with managing COVID-19 resources.
There have been numerous reports on corruption cases and lack of transparency in the health sector for a significant period of time (or we could say for almost a decade) as detailed in this matrix. In almost all of these cases, no conclusive investigations have been conducted nor have any prosecutions been undertaken. Consequently, no convictions have taken place, but in certain instances, money has been paid back to the donors using tax payers’ money.
County governments need to invest in and utilize interactive communication channels with broad reach and provide adequate notice for such fora to enable citizens to plan accordingly for the meetings. In regard to engagement between elected leaders and citizens, there is a clear need for leaders to set aside specific days to engage directly with citizens as low opportunities of engagement diminish the citizens’ ability to hold their leaders to account
