The acrid scent of tear gas lingering from June 25, 2025, mingled with the solemnity of flowers and flickering candles. On Wednesday, Kenyans gathered not in protest, but in commemoration. They remembered the lives tragically lost exactly one year prior during the anti-Finance Bill, 2024, demonstrations. The Bill was perceived as punitive and lacking genuine public consultation, igniting a firestorm of widespread anger met with lethal force. This sombre anniversary served as a stark reminder that sustainable progress is not merely about economic targets but is built on good governance.

Good governance is about the processes and institutions through which authority is exercised. It entails transparency (open decision-making and access to information), accountability (leaders being answerable for actions), participation (citizens’ meaningful involvement), the rule of law (fair and consistent application), responsiveness (institutions serving all stakeholders), and effectiveness and efficiency (delivering services optimally). When these principles are upheld, they create the enabling environment for sustainable development to take root and flourish. 

Kenya’s push towards renewable energy exemplifies how good governance can drive sustainability. The ambitious expansion of geothermal power in the Rift Valley, which aims to make Kenya a global leader in this technology, requires robust regulatory frameworks, transparent bidding processes for exploration blocks, and clear environmental impact assessments (EIAs) enforced by bodies such as the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). This governance structure has attracted investment, ensured environmental safeguards, and is powering homes and industries with clean energy — a cornerstone of sustainable economic progress.

However, the commemoration of June 25th casts a long shadow. The 2024 Finance Bill debacle represented a critical governance failure. It was marked by a perceived lack of transparency in how funds would be used, inadequate public participation despite constitutional mandates, and a devastating failure of accountability for the resulting violence. This rupture eroded trust. 

Sustainable progress requires citizens to believe the system works for them. When governance excludes and represses, as tragically evidenced last year, it sows seeds of instability that undermine long-term development. Projects like the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) corridor, while potentially transformative, face persistent challenges regarding land compensation transparency and community inclusion – governance gaps that threaten its long-term viability and social sustainability.

Tanzania’s efforts in land management and conservation offer another lens. Historically, land conflicts hampered agricultural development and conservation efforts. Initiatives to digitise land records (e.g., in areas such as Dar es Salaam and major agricultural zones) aim for greater transparency and efficiency in titling, thereby reducing disputes and encouraging investment in sustainable farming practices. This governance reform directly supports both food security (economic sustainability) and responsible land use (environmental sustainability).

In conservation, Tanzania’s community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) models, such as Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), theoretically embody participation and shared benefits. When effectively implemented, with transparent revenue sharing and genuine community decision-making, these models not only protect biodiversity but also provide sustainable livelihoods. However, challenges persist. Reports of limited accountability in revenue distribution, instances of forced displacement without adequate consultation for large projects, and sometimes heavy-handed State interventions undermine the governance principles crucial for the long-term success of these models. The effectiveness of major infrastructure projects, like the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), also hinges on rigorous, transparent environmental audits and fair compensation mechanisms – core governance issues.

The commemoration of June 25th in Kenya is a sombre reminder of the human cost when governance falters. It underscores that sustainable progress is not just about GDP growth or megaprojects. It is about building resilient societies where citizens trust their institutions, participate in their future, and feel that the benefits of development are shared justly. For Kenya and Tanzania, the path to a thriving, sustainable future is inextricably linked to the States’ commitment to building robust, transparent, accountable, and inclusive governance. It is the unbreakable chain that binds present action to a prosperous, equitable, and enduring tomorrow.