Kenya has been experiencing devolution, firsthand. The new county system brought governance closer to the people. This system has however given rise to something entirely new, and not foreseen by the highly paid politicians and specialists who decided on it; competition.
Counties are fighting for recognition, and to be seen as a mark of advancement in the country. From this, Machakos county has been most fortuitous in making an example of development in fast-forward. The latest craze is in technology. Machakos county has not only developed its roads and flower beds, now they have a smartphone app.
Users have described the app as straight forward, and easy-to-use. It is basically a portal for the Machakos County Government website. It provides general information about the county, including its history and population, and maps of the county.
The app also provides the latest news stories from the county and updates users on any new developments and happenings. The Machakos county manifesto is also included for public perusal.
Available for public viewing are pictorials from around the county which serve to show a side of Machakos not known to most people. The app is fluid and fast to work with, with shortcut buttons available on every page, including navigation buttons, social media links and links to download resources and extra material.
Users have applauded the app and its significance as a tool to enhance the devolution experience, and we are waiting to see how many more counties embrace the idea.