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DEVOLUTION

County Millionaires

19 Aug, 2024
00 min 07 sec
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The 2010 Constitution of Kenya reconfigured balance of power by devolving power and responsibilities from the national government to 47 elected county governments. The election in 2017 brought 25 new Governors including three female Governors for the first time in country’s history. The State Department for Devolution is mandated to build capacity and provide technical assistance to counties through development of relevant laws, policies, regulations and guidelines. It serves as a link between the National Government and County Governments.Devolution has brought some level of resources and development to the local level and particularly to counties that have been marginalized from national politics for a long time. Corruption remains an issue at the county level. Ethnic majorities in power see it as their “turn to eat” – that is, to access state resources. This means that minority groups are excluded from access to resources. Reports scream of massive impropriety in many Counties, a section of Governors have been summoned by the Senate to account for some specified allegations, striking citizens in some Counties over one issue or another. Nevertheless, in many counties there are new health centers, roads and street lights that wouldn’t be there without devolution.