PROCESS OF PROBLEM SOLVING Notes, Quizzes & Revision

Social Studies — Political Developments & Governance

Subtopic: Process of Problem Solving (Age 13, Kenyan Context)

Problem solving in governance means the steps people and leaders use to find and fix public problems (for example: no clean water, broken school toilets, poor roads). In Kenya, both citizens and government (village elders, Chiefs, MCAs, County Government, national ministries) take part in these steps.

Simple 7-step process

1. Identify the problem — Say what the problem is and where it happens (e.g., "Our village has no tap water for 3 months").
2. Gather information — Talk to people, check facts, count how many households are affected, measure how long it has lasted.
3. Analyse causes — Find out why it happened (pipe burst, no money, dry borehole, poor planning).
4. Find possible solutions — List ideas (repair pipe, dig borehole, water trucking, rainwater harvesting).
5. Choose the best option — Compare cost, speed, fairness and long-term effect. Use votes or meetings (baraza) if needed.
6. Implement the solution — Carry out the work: county hires contractors, community helps, NGOs give support.
7. Monitor and review — Check that the solution works and fix any new problems. Learn for next time.

Kenyan example: Fixing a broken water supply in a village

• Identify: Residents notice taps have no water for weeks.
• Gather info: Count affected homes; visit the water point; call county water office.
• Analyse: Find that a main pipe burst and the county budget is tight.
• Find solutions: Repair pipe (county), dig a community borehole (community + NGO), set up rainwater tanks (schools).
• Choose: Village holds a baraza; they agree to ask the County Government to repair the pipe and apply for a small NGO grant for emergency water tanks.
• Implement: County engineers repair the pipe; community helps watch and protect equipment.
• Monitor: Community forms a small committee to check water flow and report any future problems to the chief or MCA.

Who can help in Kenya?

Different people and institutions play a role:

• Households and village committees — first to identify and report problems.
• Chiefs and sub-county administrators — help organise meetings and report to county offices.
• MCAs and County Government — responsible for local services like water, roads, health clinics.
• National government (ministries) — may support major projects or provide funds and policy.
• Community barazas & Public Participation — forums where people give views and help choose solutions (required by the Constitution and county laws).
• NGOs and donors — can help with money, tools or training for some solutions.

Classroom activity (easy role play)

1. Divide into groups: Villagers, Chief, MCA, County Engineer, NGO representative.
2. Give each group a problem card (e.g., broken school latrines, poor road after rains).
3. Hold a mock baraza: identify, discuss causes, propose solutions, and vote.
4. Write a short action plan: who does what and when.

Important vocabulary

• Baraza — a public meeting where leaders and people discuss local issues.
• Public participation — the right of citizens to be involved in decisions that affect them.
• MCA — Member of County Assembly, represents a ward in the county government.
• Implementation — putting a chosen solution into action.
• Monitor — checking the work to make sure it solves the problem.

Short quiz (try in class)

1. List the seven steps of the problem solving process.
2. Who would you report a broken school fence to in your area? (Give two options)
3. Give one advantage and one disadvantage of a quick solution chosen without public meetings.

These notes help you see how ordinary people and government in Kenya solve problems together. Try the role play to practise each step!