Nandi has won the 2023 Open Government Award for promoting transparency and active citizenship participation in county affairs.
The county headed by Governor Stephen Sang was awarded by the Open Government Partnership during the 2023 OGP Awards Ceremony held in Estonia from 5-8 September for impressive performance in the digital technologies category for Africa and the Middle East.
The institute said the county had clearly demonstrated unwavering dedication to building a transparent and data-driven government.
“We are proud for this achievement and dedicate it to the good people of the great county of Nandi,” Sang said.
He said the county had been keen to make use of digital technologies in helping residents participate in governance and management of their own affairs.
The county’s journey to data transparency followed four steps during which Nandi’s appetite for setting up better data systems had been evident, demonstrating the need for counties to establish statistical units to handle policy research and statistics matters.
Governor Sang was praised for recognising the importance of setting up a data desk in the county thus improving decision-making.
The award was handed to Deputy Governor Dr Yulita Mitei on behalf of the governor. She played a lead role in the achievement.
“The county strengthened its commitment to data transparency with the Open Institute by signing an MoU to establish a data desk which was launched in May 2022,” a statement from the Open Institute said.
Governor Sang said the data desk was aimed to provide the public with access to budget data, project data and sector-specific information.
During the implementation process, data from different sectors was visualised and made accessible to various stakeholders through the Nandi county website and other platforms.
Sang said with its launch, the data desk provided a platform for transparency and accountability in county governance.
Nandi county became the second county in Kenya to establish a facility dedicated to collecting, curating, analysing and publishing data.
The county now has a fully operational county data desk hosted in Kapsabet town with technical team, who are fully equipped to oversee its operations.
The county has been commended for its dedication to providing accurate and timely data for decision-making, which sets a positive example for other counties to follow.
Open Institute is an African non-profit organisation based in Kenya but working in various parts of Africa.
The institute helps to promote government transparency and active citizenship by providing cutting-edge tools, ideas, knowledge and policy support to various stakeholders.
Governor Sang, popularly known as Tuga Tai or Wingit, is serving his second term and is the chairman of the North Rift Economic Bloc (Noreb).