Uraia report exposes gap between civic knowledge and public participation

The 2026 Civic Education Competency Index, which covered 18 counties, recorded an overall score of 49.1 per cent.

While civic knowledge stood at more than 76 per cent, actual civic behaviour was significantly lower at 33.7 per cent, pointing to challenges in translating awareness of civic rights into meaningful public participation.

Uraia Trust is now calling for practical, action-oriented civic education to equip citizens with the knowledge and skills needed to engage in governance and hold public institutions accountable.

Team Leader for Governance and Health at the Embassy of Denmark in Kenya, Ida Paetau Sørensen, said an effective democracy requires more than citizens knowing the Constitution.

"A strong democracy doesn't depend on citizens knowing every article of the Constitution by heart. It depends on knowing that they have a voice, understanding how to use it, and having institutions that are prepared to listen," said Ida.

Uraia Trust Head of Civic Education and Public Participation Silvia Vundi said some counties were prioritising public participation at the expense of civic education, leaving citizens without the necessary information to make informed decisions.

"We have some preliminary findings that show that the component of civic education which in most counties goes hand in hand with public participation, counties will fund public participation at the expense of civic education. This means counties want citizens to participate in making decisions affecting them but without the prerequisite knowledge to make informed decisions," Vundi added.

Uraia Trust Executive Director Oliver Waindi said Kenyans were also demanding greater accountability from leaders, particularly in the implementation of Chapter Six of the Constitution, which addresses leadership and integrity.

"Kenyans want to see Chapter Six being implemented in elections. They want to see people getting barred from contesting because they cannot meet the threshold of holding public office. They want to see Kenyans held responsible for the mistakes they did and not just because they are from my tribe, they are from my gender," Waindi noted.