Siaya: Ward Administrators Equipped with Conflict Resolution Skills

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SIAYA County Ward administrators have been equipped with knowledge on grievance redress mechanism ahead of the implementation of the 22 projects earmarked under Financing Locally Led Climate Actions program (FLLoCA).

Photos: Directorate of Public Communication, County Government of Siaya

A grievance Redress Mechanism is an instrument through which dispute resolution is sought and provided. It involves the receipt and processing of complaints from individuals or groups negatively affected by activities of a particular project.

According to County Executive Committee Member (CECM) in-charge of Water Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources Prof Jaqueline Oduol, the two days training offered to the 30 administrators from Siaya County is timely.

“It’s going to help the administrators who work at the grassroots to document any complaints that comes with the implementation of the 22 projects in the designated 18 Wards,” said Prof Oduol.

“The 22 projects selected and approved for implementations are at tendering stage and once implementation kicks off, certain complaints may emerge from the public at the grassroots level,” said Prof Oduol adding that its those complaints that should be addressed effectively to the satisfaction of the complainants.

According to Social Risk Program Manager Julius Bruno, each of the complaints that is sorted to the satisfaction of the clients will earn counties 10 marks which is equivalent to between KES 20- KES 50 million.

“A well-managed GRM will earn Counties 10 marks and that would earn them millions of shillings,” said Bruno adding that through such initiatives, counties can get KES 100 million even before looking at The PCRA which is always 20 marks.

“Administrators must share with the public grievance redress mechanism strategies and seek their opinions on how they would like it closed,” said Bruno.

He added that failure to share feedback to the complainant would mean that it was not sorted and that would lead to a negative impact on the progress of the projects under implementation.

“Proactive sharing of the information is the role of the administrators and its an important point. You must tell the public how to report grievances,” he added.

Water Chief Officer Michael Oliech asked the administrators to be quick in capturing and processing the grievances before they get in the wrong channels.

“We must remain vigilant,“said Oliech adding that FLLoCA is a delicate program that should be handled with care for the Country to get subsequent funding.

The CO said the National FLLoA coordinators and Project Implementation Unit at the Treasury are keen on the progress reports on the projects implementation.

“80 percent absorption of the funds is also another parameter in increasing funding for Counties so contractors who benefit from the tenders must not laze around as that would not put us in good books with the funders,’ said Oliech.

“We are also against contractors picking many projects and ending up having difficulty in implementation. This is a result-oriented scheme where projects implemented must be of quality and done on the period agreed upon,” said Oliech.

He further cautioned Siaya people against wasting their energies on criticizing things that require only a little support to spark the correct light that will transform the society.

He regretted that Nyanza residents are good at negative analysis to the detriment of implementation of projects.

The meeting was also attended by Director Environment Gabriel Oduong.

Sella Akoth maintained that Siaya is in the right track and progressing well on the FLLoCA program.

“We are in Nyanza to check on the progress of the program and check any gaps existing in the counties with a view to help them fill it and Siaya is not among those with major challenges.

“We have just passed by to check if we are on point or missing something but certain counties we visited are already showing us the red flag and Siaya fortunately is not in that category,” she added.

The administrators led by Bondo sub-County administrator Vincent Kanyangonda lauded the training on Grievance Redress Mechanism.

“As focal persons we are now empowered with knowledge that will help us address the grievances on the grounds. Should we find complex ones, we shall forward to the top leadership to help fix for the complaints to get channeled where there’ll be feedback,” said Kanyangonda.

Similar sentiments were shared by Willis Ang’awa saying that they will work closely with ward climate committees to capture, process and sort grievances for the smooth running of the projects.