TISA Annual Report – 2023

TISA defines social accountability as the process by which citizens hold duty-bearers responsible for their actions. This involves ensuring that individuals, agencies, and organizations, particularly those in the public sector, execute their powers under established standards, whether mutually agreed upon or not. TISA operates on the premise of addressing the challenge of holding duty-bearers accountable during the five-year intervals between election cycles. 

The period between election cycles sees heightened citizen participation in the governance process. However, apathy, especially in Kenyan communities, poses a significant challenge. Many citizens express a disconnect between their elected representatives, such as Members of County Assembly (MCA), and the need to follow up on their actions actively. The concept of social accountability often fails to permeate the electorate, leading to distrust about the possibility of holding leaders accountable. Despite constitutional provisions for actions like recalling the president, citizens often perceive that the President is above the law due to a prevailing view of power dynamics.