10th November 2025
Nairobi Eastern and Central Regional Budget Hub (NECHUB) is pleased to reflect on active participation in the Regional Budget Hub Roundtable Meeting held—- in Machakos County. The event underscored the power of multi-stakeholder collaboration in advancing transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in county governance.
The meeting provided a vital platform for dialogue. It brought together stakeholders from the County Government, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and NECHUB, all united by a shared goal: strengthening public engagement and oversight in the county budget process.
For years, CSOs and community actors have faced barriers in engaging effectively with county governments on issues of budget implementation and monitoring. The roundtable marked a turning point, fostering constructive dialogue, strategic knowledge sharing, and renewed partnerships to bridge the gap between policy and people.
NECHUB commends the Machakos County Government for its exemplary commitment to open governance and partnership. We particularly acknowledge the leadership of:
- Mr. Bruce Isika – Chief Officer for Youth Affairs and Sports, and the County’s OGP Local Point of Contact
- Ms. Winfred – Deputy Director of Budget, for her valuable technical insights
- Mr. Philip Mutooni – OGP Local CSO Point of Contact and Youth Senate Representative, for his tireless advocacy
- Dr. Violet Mbiti – For her pivotal facilitation and continuous monitoring role
Their collective engagement reflects a strong institutional commitment to inclusive and accountable governance.
A major highlight of the meeting was the successful co-creation of the Machakos Open Government Local Action Plan — a landmark achievement symbolizing true partnership between the Machakos County Government and the Machakos CSO Network, including key budget advocates.
This milestone aligns closely with the Bajeti Hub initiative, insights from the County Budget Transparency Survey, and the Open Government Partnership (OGP) framework. Together, they embody the aspirations of Kenya’s 2010 Constitution — promoting transparency, inclusivity, and accountability in governance.
The establishment of the Machakos OGP Plan is more than a county-level success; it is a national blueprint for collaborative governance. It proves that when government and civil society work hand in hand, long-standing barriers to public participation can be dismantled.
NECHUB remains committed to supporting the replication and implementation of this model across all 14 hub counties in Kenya, ensuring that budgeting and governance processes become truly citizen-centered.
Machakos County Disability Network led by its leadership and Disability Budget Champions Samson Mbithi and David Mutua, alongside Machakos County Budget Facilitator Dr. Violet Mbiti of Violet Mbiti Foundation and Machakos County budget Champion Jeriter Mutinda held a critical meeting with the Chairperson and members of the Budget and Appropriations Committee of Machakos County Assembly
The meeting was an advocacy call to ensure that the challenges and needs of PWDs are not overlooked in the CIDP and the previous Annual Development Plan (ADP) for 2025/26.
The team made a powerful case for why programs for PWDs must be prioritized after years of being silent in the county budget.
- The team emphasized the urgent need for a dedicated budget for essential programs, such as acquiring and distributing assistive devices to empower PWDs and improve their quality of life.
- They advocated for the allocation of adequate resources to fully operationalize the PWDs board, which is a key institution for championing the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities in the county.
3rd September 2025
The team secured a commitment from the committee to hold a joint meeting with the County Executive. This crucial next step will ensure key priorities are not just heard but are officially considered and included in the Supplementary Budget 1 for 2025/26.
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.