APRM • SECOND COUNTRY REVIEW REPORT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA 4.4.2.2 Challenges 330. Major challenges remain in involving all stakeholders in planning and implementation process, especially in fostering effective participation of stakeholders at the grassroots. There is still inadequate consultation with stakeholders to ensure effective participation in development programmes. 4.4.3 Recommendations of the Panel 331. The panel recommends the following actions to promote public participation: i) Conduct civic education to promote public awareness of their rights to participate in the designing and implementation of government’s development policies and programmes (national and county governments, civil society); ii) Develop effective tools of communicating to the public (national and county governments); iii) Issue sufficient notifications for the public forums (national and county governments); iv) Use various media to communicate to the public (national and county governments); and v) Translate technical documents in reader friendly languages widely spoken by the local population, particularly Kiswahili and Braille for the visually impaired members of the community) (National and County Governments). 4.5 OBJECTIVE THREE: PROMOTE SOUND PUBLIC FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT 4.5.1 Summary of the Country Self-Assessment (CSAR) 332. The CSAR notes that the Kenyan government recognizes the importance of sound financial management by mobilizing revenue for service delivery as well as to provide public goods and services. In reference to the constitution and laws, the CSAR indicates that fiscal oversight functions have been transferred from the executive branch of government and traditional institutions to the legislative arm. The Economic Affairs Department (EAD) of the National Treasury monitors policy implementation, revenues and expenditure performance of the government. The government established the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) in 2007, later created by an Act of parliament in 2009 through the PFM Act. The PBO provides strong technical support for parliament to adequately scrutinize the budget. The CSAR informs that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the parliament has been operationalized and that the review of audit reports is up-to-date. However, the CSAR points out that the final accounts of the government are not prepared in conformity with the IPSAS or similar standards. | 155 |