Kenya’s new constitution was enacted on August 27, 2010 replacing the old one that had been in place since Kenya’s independence in 1963.
The promulgation of this new constitution marked the end of one of the longest journeys in Kenyan history.
Over 67% of Kenyan voters approved this new constitution in a referendum that paved way for a historic and spectacular moment in Kenya’s democracy.
One of the greatest goodies that came with the constitution was devolution which divided Kenya into 47 counties, with the structures of the county government being well stipulated and synergized with the national government.
Flash forward the excitement and expectations that Kenyans had then to now, five years since the promulgation, and without much thought you will concur that the whole idea of devolution might have been cursed at birth.
It is an open secret that if handled positively, devolution is the greatest gift that the constitution can give Kenyans in terms of development and service delivery, considering the whole concept of it was to bring service delivery close to the Wanjirus and the Otienos that is the local mwananchi.
But cutting across from Mombasa County to Nairobi County, it looks like the only thing that has worked well in the devolved government is one, corruption, two, corruption and three, corruption.
Looking at the funny budgetary allocation whereby millions of shillings are allocated to things like opening a Facebook account or construction of a multi-million hospital gate to buying carcinogenic wheelbarrows, one is left to wonder if indeed it was a good idea to devolve functions.
Health is one of the devolved duties and what we witness every day in counties is doctors and nurses going on strike over unpaid wages. One is left to wonder where all the revenues collected by the county governments go to.
The question we are all left with is are we as a country really serious about our counties? If we are, then we ought to get the best bargain of leaders to propel us to the promised land.