For Violet Mbiti, a Budget Facilitator from Machakos County and a key member of NEC Hub, advocacy is about ensuring that every young person has a voice in governance. As the founder of the Violet Mbiti Foundation, she has worked tirelessly at the grassroots to amplify citizens’ voices, particularly advocating for vulnerable and marginalized groups. Her latest triumph? Leading a relentless push for the passage and implementation of the Machakos County Youth Empowerment Policy Act 2022.
Violet’s journey into budget advocacy began when she attended public participation sessions for the Programme-Based Budget for the 2023/2024 financial year. She quickly realized a glaring issue: the budget document lacked clarity on youth priorities. Determined to change this, she mobilized young advocates and formally wrote to the Clerk of the Machakos County Assembly, requesting a meeting with the Youth Committee to discuss the delay in passing the Youth Empowerment Policy Bill 2022.
“I knew we had to act fast,” Violet recalls. “If we didn’t push for the bill, youth concerns would continue to be ignored in county budgets.”
Her efforts gained momentum when the Clerk responded, extending an invitation to engage directly with the Machakos County Assembly Committee on Youth, Sports and Social Welfare. Together with youth-serving organizations from across Machakos, Violet presented critical concerns—budget transparency, youth participation in monitoring government projects, the establishment of a County Youth Fund, and economic empowerment through public procurement opportunities for young people.
Violet Mbiti: A Trailblazer in Budget Advocacy for Youth Empowerment in Machakos County
One of the biggest wins from the engagement was shining a light on Machakos County’s low ranking in the County Budget Transparency Survey 2022. At position 21 out of 47 counties, Machakos lagged behind its neighbors, Makueni (2nd) and Kitui (5th). “We needed to demand better transparency,” Violet explains. “Without access to crucial budget documents, we couldn’t hold the government accountable for how resources meant for youth were being used.”
Her advocacy efforts, supported by Uraia Trust under the SPARK project, yielded results beyond expectations. The Machakos County Assembly passed the Youth Empowerment Policy Bill 2022, marking a historic moment in youth inclusion. In August 2024, the Machakos County Executive conducted public participation on the Youth Empowerment Policy Act 2022, a step towards ensuring that its provisions are implemented effectively.
Violet’s leadership extends beyond policy wins. She also convenes the Machakos County Budget Champions, a coalition of advocates from religious institutions, civil society organizations, and the media, who champion equitable resource allocation and accountability in public finance. Through this network, she continues to push for further reforms, including the allocation of business spaces for youth with disabilities and stronger enforcement of the Public Finance Management Act’s provision that 30% of procurement opportunities be reserved for youth, women, and Persons with Disabilities.
“We’ve come a long way, but there’s still work to be done,” Violet reflects. “The passage of the Youth Empowerment Policy Act was just the beginning. Now, we must ensure that it is fully implemented and that young people across Machakos County continue to have a seat at the table.”
Her story is a testament to the power of persistence, collaboration and data-driven advocacy in shaping public policy. As a key member of NEC Hub, Violet Mbiti embodies the impact that dedicated budget facilitators can have in transforming governance from the ground up.