The county bosses met at the Meru National Polytechnic last week to take stock of devolution three years into its adoption, and charting the way forward.
And as usual, there were speeches on corruption, service delivery, and delay in release of funds by the central government which dominated the conference. Besides, there were lots of fun, too.
Devolution was to serve the people at the grassroots who overwhelmingly voted for the units to get rid of what they saw as skewed development in certain regions in the 2010 constitution.
The system of governance was not meant to cause friction between the national and county governments as has been the case. It was to ensure that even those in the remotest of regions in Kenya get, feel, and taste development.
For instance, how can one justify why more than 50 years after independence, some Kenyans are yet to see a tarmacked road? Devolution was meant to change all this.
Even as we celebrate the little development the system has brought about, a lot remains to be done, hence the need for the governors to pull up their socks.
Top on the list is the war on corruption, a vice which is deep rooted in Kenya. That the devolved units would embrace graft is an anathema to the common man.
The county bosses should ensure that all the monies coming to the county are well utilised to benefit residents.
Secondly, the issue of nepotism must end. Counties were not set up as avenues for the officials to give jobs and tenders to cronies and relatives.
The public needs services and better ones for that matter. It is not a favour the public is demanding for but a right from the county chiefs.
President Uhuru Kenyatta skipped the meeting for a Cabinet retreat in Naivasha also to take stock of his government and plan for the future as he readies for next year’s elections where he’ll be seeking a second term.
But it was inexcusable for the MPs and senators to give the conference a wide berth.
Some of the reasons for their boycott don’t hold water. They should have attended to confront the governors over what they don’t see right in their administration.
Some of the senators and MPs, are keen on clinching the county bosses' seat in the next elections and so could not see how they would converge and discuss issues where they have interest in.
Indeed, the conference is one of the avenues where the leaders can exhaustively discuss issues affecting their regions and avoid delegations to people's homes in the name of seeking development favours.
Therefore, leaders should stop blame games and serve wananchi.