Publication: Public-private development partnership : a rights-based approach
Date
2025-12
Authors
Chiawo, David
Ngila, Peggy
Mukami, Linet
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Strathmore University Press
Abstract
In its First annual report, the Public- Private Partnership (PPP) Directorate indicated that since commencement of the PPP programme in 2023, the Government of Kenya (GoK) mobilized Sh90 billion in form of private capital investments, with Sh80 billion realised in 2021/22. Despite this enactment and the ongoing PPP projects, many local communities in Kenya are yet to realise the full impact of such projects, since they still lack life’s essentials (rights-based needs) such as clean water, quality healthcare, and education. The PPP Act has gaps in the application of rights-based principles. Some of the weak areas include accountability, inclusivity, community participation, climate action, community empowerment, and rights protection. Beyond PPP projects meeting feasibility criteria, there is need for a clear framework and guidelines to hold PPP projects accountable to ensure development outcomes that meet the needs and expectations of communities. Therefore, good development should be anchored on human-based principles to effectively impact community development. This gap highlights the need to strengthen the PPP Act (2021) by embedding rights-based, inclusive, and climate-responsive principles through a Public-Private Development Partnership (PPDP) model, an inclusive rights-based approach to development, as evidenced in a study carried out in Narok and Nakuru counties.
Description
This policy brief was authored by Dr David Chiao, Dr Peggy Ngila and Jane Mugo (Centre for Biodiversity Information Development, Strathmore University); Mumbi Wachira, and Linet Mukami (Strathmore Business School, Strathmore University; Titus Kuria and Jackson Obare ( ForumCiv, Kenya).