WHY COMMUNICATION IS CRUCIAL IN COUNTY DEVELOPMENT

                      After the March 4 elections, Kenyans will usher in a new dawn. They will start reaping the fruits of devolved system of government. They will actualize their dream of deciding what they want done in their localities without the 'disturbance' of the central government. It will be a season of happiness and hope for the populace and a time to work for the elected. But one thing is crucial for this to become a reality. There must be dialogue. I mean fruitful dialogue. You know what? You don't carry a dialogue in a vacuum. Let's now explore what we need to have a fruitful dialogue.

                      Information is the engine of development. It connects the governed and the government. An informed populace participates fully in the running of the government. Successful governance entails borrowing ideas from the governed. The old adage goes, a dead person understands a grave the best. On matters of development, the masses know it better. They understand their aspirations and wishes. The only 'problem' they have is how to make these aspirations a reality. And this is where the elected people have their work cut out. Putting mechanisms of communication is the first step towards the realization of this dream.

                     A county government must have its instruments of information and communication. These include, but not limited to, TV stations and radios. Just imagine a county government depending on village elders as tools of communication! I'm not downgrading the roles of our elders. They play a central role on matters communication. Complementing their roles is the issue under discussion here.

                    Hope is hope until it is actualized. The hopes of the hoi polloi are to "hear" and "talk" with their leaders. This is the surest way in which they can participate in governance. It is this "hearing" and "talking" that pushed to the setting up of these devolved units of governance. It is therefore imperative for the incoming team of peoples' workers to put in place systems of communication. I think having radio and TV programs funded by the County Government is important. The fruits that will emanate from this will actually surpass the operational cost.

                   Failure to do this will be a betrayal of the trust of the masses. Failure to connect with the people will be equivalent to equating them to things,not thinking humans. And this will be a recipe for chaos. Avert chaos by connecting with the people. This is the essence of you being elected.