Community development./HANDOUTNairobi City County government has invited residents to give their views on a proposed Community Development Policy aimed at guiding inclusive, people-centred development.
The public participation forum will be held at Charter Hall on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
Residents including youth and children are encouraged to attend and share their views to help shape a policy designed to strengthen community participation and improve service delivery across the county.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said the proposed policy seeks to empower marginalised and vulnerable groups. It also seeks to improve coordination and effectiveness in community development programmes.
He said the policy will guide how the county engages and supports groups such as youth, women, older persons, persons with disabilities, migrants, refugees and internally displaced persons.
“The policy will provide a framework for inclusive engagement and social transformation,” he said.
The draft policy seeks to bring out priorities and goals to support sustainable community development and ensure residents are involved in decision-making processes that affect their lives.
Among its key proposals is the strengthening of community-based organisations and self-help groups to deepen social and economic justice and enhance community confidence and participation.
County officials say these groups are vital because they have the numbers, local knowledge and innovation needed to drive change at the grassroots level.
The policy proposes empowering community-based organisations and self-help groups, enhancing public participation in planning and development and establishing committees at ward and county levels to oversee implementation.
The document also proposes creating a Technical Steering Committee to guide technical execution, improving staff capacity and performance standards in community services, mobilising resources and strengthening stakeholder coordination, and raising awareness to promote positive social behaviour and community engagement.
The county government says the policy will also mainstream community development across other county sectors to improve coordination and impact.
Policy also aims to reduce inequality and ensure no group is left behind in development planning.
Community development initiatives in Kenya are rooted in traditional self-help practices and were formalised during the colonial period and expanded after independence.
The Constitution of Kenya recognises public participation as a national value and affirms the role of citizens in shaping development.
Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics shows Nairobi has more than 4.4 million residents, with an estimated 60 per cent living in informal settlements, underscoring the need for inclusive and community-driven development approaches.
The policy seeks to strengthen community engagement, improve coordination of development efforts and align local initiatives with national priorities and global development goals.
Residents can submit their views during the public forum at Charter Hall or through county participation channels.
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