Trust Summit calls out gaps in Kenya’s public accountability

A panel session during the Global Trust Summit in Nairobi. (Photo/ Courtesy)

Kenya needs to strengthen accountability by ensuring audit findings trigger corrective action and government institutions respond to citizens’ complaints, leaders at the Global Trust Summit in Nairobi have said.

They also called for public participation to translate into tangible policy and budget decisions, rather than remain a procedural exercise.

The calls point towards gaps in how public institutions translate transparency and public consultations into measurable results, with speakers warning that public confidence will remain weak if government commitments are not matched by tangible improvements in service delivery.

The three-day summit, running from October 21 to 23, convened government officials, regulators, civil society representatives and business leaders to examine how institutions can rebuild public trust through accountability, credible information and meaningful citizen engagement.

Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu said accountability mechanisms must go beyond producing reports to ensure that information leads to action, highlighting the need for audit findings and oversight processes to result in corrective measures.

“The challenge for Kenya is to ensure that findings on the use of public resources translate into improvements in government operations rather than remain in compliance documents, while strengthening the link between oversight institutions and those responsible for implementing recommendations,” she said.

The discussions also highlighted weaknesses in public participation, particularly where citizens contribute to consultations but receive little feedback on how their views influence government decisions.

Caroline Gaita, executive director of Mzalendo Trust, said public engagement must involve a clear response from decision-makers rather than simply recording attendance at consultation forums.

“Participation without a feedback loop is not engagement; it’s attendance,” Gaita said.

The concern is particularly relevant to decisions on public spending, development projects and policies that directly affect households, businesses and local communities.

Experts during the forum argued that without clear explanations of how public views are considered, participation risks becoming a procedural requirement rather than a meaningful accountability tool.

Dr Priscilla, director of the Communications Authority of Kenya, said institutions must also demonstrate that they can resolve complaints, warning that unresolved concerns can deepen public mistrust.

“Trust does not stop with complaints. It stops when the complaint has been resolved,” she said.

The summit’s discussions further point to the need for public institutions to establish clearer complaint-resolution procedures, communicate progress to citizens and demonstrate whether reported problems have been addressed.

Felix Koskei, Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service, also challenged regulators and public agencies to practise the standards they demand of others.

“A regulator that demands compliance from others must be an example of compliance,” Koskei said.

Overall, the remarks place institutional conduct at the centre of efforts to rebuild confidence, particularly where public agencies are expected to enforce rules, safeguard public resources and deliver essential services.

The summit is seeking to move beyond discussions towards a proposed Nairobi Call to Action on Global Trust, which aims to advance practical measures for rebuilding confidence in institutions.

As the meeting concludes, the leaders reiterate that the test for Kenya will be whether the recommendations lead to stronger follow-up on audit findings, more responsive public services and mechanisms that show citizens how their participation influences decisions.

Without such changes, they note that the country risks continuing to make accountability commitments without convincing the public that those commitments are being fulfilled.