24/08/2026
NEPAD/APRM Kenya Secretariat Kicks Off Phase III CPRM Validation Exercise in Four Counties
The NEPAD/APRM Kenya Secretariat today commenced Phase III of the County Peer Review Mechanism (CPRM) Validation Exercise in Kisumu, Homa Bay, Meru and Migori counties, marking a step towards strengthening accountable, participatory and responsive governance at the county level.
In Kisumu, the validation team paid a courtesy call on H.E. Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o, Governor of Kisumu County, at his office. Governor Nyong’o welcomed the exercise, noting that the validation process is critical in strengthening governance and is aligned with the Government’s broader Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
The Governor emphasised the importance of evidence-based engagement and continuous improvement in advancing effective service delivery and development at the county level.
In his remarks, the National Governing Council (NGC) Chairperson, H.E. Sospeter Ojaamong, also briefed the Governor on the objectives and significance of the validation exercise. He underscored the need for stakeholders to approach the process with openness, honesty and a commitment to improving governance outcomes.
“It is important that this exercise is approached in the spirit of honest reflection and a desire for continuous improvement rather than as an exercise for assigning blame,” H.E. Ojaamong noted.
The validation process provides an opportunity to interrogate the findings generated during the county self-assessment and ensure that the final County Review Reports present an accurate, balanced and evidence-based picture of governance and service delivery in the respective counties.
Stakeholders participating in the process are therefore encouraged to freely confirm findings, provide clarification, challenge findings where they are not adequately supported, and submit additional evidence, perspectives and recommendations.
Speaking on the exercise, the Principal Secretary, State Department for Economic Planning, Dr. Bonface Makokha emphasised the importance of candid and constructive stakeholder engagement in strengthening the quality and credibility of the CPRM reports. The PS called on stakeholders to engage openly with the validation teams and provide evidence and practical recommendations that can contribute to improved governance and service delivery.
The Kisumu validation team is being led by CPRM Panel Member Ambassador Rukia, alongside the CEO NEPAD/APRM Kenya Secretariat Amb. Dr. Samori Okwiya, Director APRM & Governance, Mr. Peter Kimemia and officers from the Secretariat.
The County Peer Review Mechanism (CPRM) is a voluntary and participatory governance self-assessment and peer-learning framework that Kenya has adopted to cascade the principles and values of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) to the sub-national level.
The CPRM provides counties with an opportunity to assess their governance systems, policies, practices and service delivery performance; identify areas of good practice and challenges; and develop practical measures for continuous improvement.
The mechanism is designed to promote transparency, accountability, citizen participation, peer learning and improved public service delivery, while providing counties with a platform to learn from one another and strengthen their governance systems.
Kenya is recognised as a pioneer in cascading the peer-review approach to the sub-national level, demonstrating its commitment to deepening the principles of the APRM and promoting accountable governance across all levels of government.
At the conclusion of the Phase III exercise, the Secretariat expects to have eight validated County Review Reports, supported by documented stakeholder comments, additional evidence, agreed amendments and recommendations.
The process will also capture good practices and identify priority areas requiring further improvement in the respective counties.
Following the validation exercise, the NEPAD/APRM Kenya Secretariat will consolidate the findings and coordinate the incorporation of agreed amendments into the final County Review Reports.
