Nairobi, Kenya – October 10, 2025: Nandi County has been awarded the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Local Program Award for Excellence in Access to Information during the 2025 OGP Global Summit held in Spain. The recognition celebrates the county’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement under the leadership of Governor Stephen Sang. Senior county officials, including Deputy Governor Dr. Yullita Cheruiyot Mitei, County Secretary Dr. Francis Sang, and ICT Administrator Robert Kirui, were present at the summit, highlighting Nandi County’s strides in open governance. The award positions the county as a benchmark for inclusive and participatory local governance in Africa.
The accolade reflects a series of deliberate reforms and initiatives by the county. Among the key achievements is the Equitable Ward Development Fund Act of 2023, which mandates that half of all development resources are allocated through participatory ward-level planning. Nandi County has also strengthened citizen engagement through partnerships with organizations like the National Taxpayers Association and Mzalendo Trust, launching multilingual communications, open data sharing platforms, and an accessible County Information Portal. Notably, the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) program reserves 30% of procurement contracts for women, youth, and persons with disabilities, ensuring that transparency goes hand in hand with inclusivity. Governor Sang emphasized that these initiatives are designed to ensure that every resident, from remote villages to town centers, can access public information and participate in local development decisions.
The award has been met with enthusiasm both within the county and at the national level, signaling the growing importance of open governance in Kenya. Analysts and civic activists have lauded Nandi County’s approach as a model for other counties aiming to strengthen accountability and citizen participation. Looking ahead, the county plans to expand its civic education programs, produce additional multilingual resources, and enhance digital platforms to further improve public access to information. These efforts are expected not only to reinforce transparency but also to empower communities, attract investment, and drive inclusive development across the region.