Accelerating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through localization in Kenya
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When the community members of Imbo village gather at their local borehole, there is laughter, conversation and a shared sense of ownership. Not long ago, clean water was a distant dream. Today, a community-managed borehole, supported through county planning, has brought relief to over 500 families.
“We used to walk for hours every day to fetch water,” recalls Mary (name changed for privacy) a member of the Ochina Water Project, “Now we have time to work, rest, and even attend public meetings. For the first time, I feel my voice matters in how our county develops.”
Mary’s story mirrors a growing shift in Homa Bay County, where women, youth, and marginalized groups are stepping into decision-making spaces, and helping to shape county plans, budgets, and priorities.
For years, structural barriers and limited participation kept citizens at the margins of governance. But under Kenya’s Public Finance Management Act (2012) and Constitution (2010), counties are mandated to involve the public in planning and budgeting.
With support from the United Nations Joint Programme on SDG Localization, led by UN Women, UNICEF, and UNDP, Homa Bay County stands out as a model for gender-responsive leadership and community participation.
Through capacity-building, training, and data alignment with the SDGs, the county is translating global commitments into local action and making sure women and youth are part of the journey.
In the horticultural sector, farmers who once struggled with low yields are now leading value chains, thanks to training and market access. At Lela Beach, fisherfolk, including women traders, are learning sustainable fishing practices and improving their livelihoods.
In one village, Boniface, a young farmer proudly walks visitors through his thriving fish ponds and organic vegetable plots. “This farm changed my life,” he says, “I am now training other young people so they can earn and feed their families.”
County departments now use SDG-based budgeting, set performance indicators, and engage citizens in participatory forums.
Homa Bay’s progress will feed into Kenya’s 2025 Voluntary National Review, demonstrating how local action can drive national and global commitments.
Watch the short documentary: Accelerating SDGs through Localization – Kenya
About the Joint Programme: The UN Joint Programme on SDG Localization supports counties to translate the SDGs into local realities through gender-responsive budgeting, inclusive governance, and participatory planning, ensuring that no one is left behind in Kenya’s development journey.