Kapchorwa Civil Society Organization’s Alliance (KACSOA) have engaged stakeholders on the Local economic development (LED) policy exploring how integrating local philanthropy into Kapchorwa Municipality can rejuvenate community-driven progress.
The first fire place conversation in Kapchorwa underscored the need for community philanthropy where individuals and local institutions give their resources along with the time and skills to promote the well-being of others and the betterment of the communities in which they live and work.
George Kiprotich, the Executive director (ED) KACSOA said that the fireplace conversation is intended to collect ideas and opinions from stakeholders which will be presented for adoption by stakeholders in a regional meeting with district leaders next month on the LED agenda and its importance in boosting development in Kapchorwa Municipality through giving and expecting nothing in return.
He highlighted scenarios where most local revenue collection avenues in the municipality have not been fully utilized like road blocks, market dues, vehicle taxes, hotel taxes, etc towards the local government tax base adding that what is collected as a community reciprocates development and funding from the government and donors.
Ruben Cherotich, town treasurer; Chepsukunya Town Council, Soi County, Kween district said that tax collection avenues have been properly untilized in Chepsukunya and hence development through the wider tax base revenue.
He asked stakeholders to encourage communities not to evade tax emphasizing that “the power to transform communities lies within the communities themselves. He further advocated for the establishment of a central market in Kapchorwa Municipality to increase the local revenue base” he said.
Mark Cherop, the program officer at KACSOA said the engagement is intended to popularize the LED policy which he insists is very sustainable in comparison to several government projects that have not been sustainable because people do not feel a sense of ownership through their input and resources.
Participants thereafter proposed strategies ranging from empowering leaders to champion grassroots initiatives, ensuring communities understand the value of self-help and collective action, accountability of collected funds, community sensitisation on gov’t programs like, the special grant for PWDs, PDM and emyooga among others to ensure maximum productivity.
Future prospects of the LED policy emphasize the importance of community led development as the key to sustainable growth and empowering local philanthropy drives inclusive growth allowing communities to transform themselves from within.
