Along with the political liberalisation, the shifting emphasis in development discourse and industry towards promoting more socially equitable economic growth and meeting the basic needs of the poor has created pressures for a wider participation of the people in decision-making. “Participation and decentralization are considered to have a symbiotic relationship, as successful decentralization requires some degree of local participation.” In relation to this, the Kenyan government has requires that the local authorities produce a Local Authority Service Delivery Action Plan (LASDAP) together with the local organisations, groups and associations. In the first year of LASDAPs (2001/2002) more than 27,000 individuals participated in all together 900 meetings. "Participant groups included market and trader associations, women's groups, self-help groups, handicapped groups, neighbourhood groups, health and medical groups, churches and schools." Elected representatives both national and local also took part, together with some government officials