Hello, Substack. I'm here.
Still a blogger, but evolving
Hi Friends,
As many of you know, I’ve been blogging on alkags.me since 2006. Over time, the blog has evolved into a space for in-depth, analytical pieces—sometimes spanning 3,000 words. I’ve realised, though, that the length and weight of those essays sometimes get in the way of the simple, everyday conversations I value with many of you.
That’s why, after running polls across my social media (and following your explicit encouragement), I’m starting this Substack. Every Friday, I’ll share a shorter, more conversational note—something closer to the way I’d talk to you if we were catching up in person. It might be a reflection on the week, a story that’s stuck with me, or just an idea I want to test with you. It won’t be polished essays—just honest thoughts, shared in real time.
So thank you for nudging me into this. You asked, and I listened. I’m glad to have this new ritual with you. Here’s to Fridays filled with thoughtful exchanges and conversations that continue long after the email lands.
Citizen-Generated Data: The Bedrock of Proof-Based Governance
Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro reviewing the data presented to him
For too long, governance has been driven by promises. Leaders publish glossy manifestos filled with visions of what could be. Citizens cast their votes in hope, then wait—quietly, often in the dark—uncertain how those promises will unfold.
But a different future is calling: evidence-based governance. A world where leaders are judged not by speeches, but by the visible evidence of what they do. And the foundation of that world? Citizen-generated data.
This is the work we do at the Open Institute, building spaces for active citizenship and social accountability. With tools like the Sabasi Suite, citizens in every corner of the country, with or without internet access, can gather, share, and safeguard their own data. That is what true inclusivity looks like: citizens not waiting for information, but producing it, owning it, and using it as proof.
Just yesterday, October 1st, I was reminded why this matters. From morning until evening, I sat with the people of Kilifi as citizens from each of the 35 wards stood up, one by one, to present their mapped projects. Behind them, photos displayed on a screen - undeniable evidence. In front of them, their Governor, H.E. Gideon Mung’aro, listened and took notes. Over 3,647 projects were reviewed, questioned, and accounted for. In that room, citizens spoke with power, and the dashboards we quietly built at OI stood behind them like armour.
This is the future I see. A future where stakeholders think twice before pushing projects that don’t serve communities. Where budgets are drafted with care, because leaders know: if you fail to deliver, the people will know, the people will show, and the evidence will reflect it.
The dashboards we’re creating are not just websites. They are mirrors. Mirrors that reflect the reality of governance—available to citizens any day, any time, from anywhere. Proof that cannot be denied.
The journey to proof-based governance is long, but it is one I am committed to. Every mile, every tool, every gathering is part of a movement to equip citizens with verified, undeniable data - and to remind leaders that promises are nothing without proof.
Check out Kilifi’s Citizen Dashboard.