CORD should take note that devolution is on course

One of the issues the CORD outfit plans to discuss at the so-called national dialogue, if ever, is devolution. It alleges that the government has undermined the implementation of devolution and threatened its existence, and claims that the government is hell-bent on strangling it by starving it to death. And so on.

This rhetoric is made even though CORD members sit on all the relevant Senate and National Assembly committees that determine all matters pertaining to devolution, including the transfer of functions and the resource allocation.

This week, the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution (CIC) unveiled a report on the assessment of the operationalisation of devolved governments based on a study undertaken by the commission that sought to establish progress made one year on.

The study examined a wide scope, covering the administrative structures in place at the counties, transfer of functions, allocation of resources, legislative framework, capacity, financial systems, etc.

The study also assessed achievements, challenges, lessons learnt, and opportunities arising from the implementation of the system of devolved governments. Their findings are apt and authoritative – the county governments are well and on course! It is neither threatened nor starved; and they are happy with the progress.

That is an important verdict by a constitutional commission with a clear mandate to ‘monitor, facilitate and oversee the development of policies, laws, administrative procedures and institutional frameworks required to implement the system of devolved government’.

They exercise this mandate through the Transitional Authority that gave a thumbs up too at the launch of the report. And the abrasive chair of the Council of Governors who presided over the launch of the report in Nakuru concurred that devolution was working, and that the two levels of government were cooperating well. I couldn’t agree more!

As the first full financial year of the county governments come to a close this weekend, it is important to celebrate the successes and embrace the challenges ahead. In just one year, nearly all the functions in Schedule Four have been transferred to the counties.

Funds far above the minimum threshold set by the Constitution have been allocated to the counties. It may not be adequate; but no government ever gets enough funds! Nonetheless, it was adequate to allow every county to budget at least over 30 per cent of its funds for development projects.

All administrative structures and staffing are in place, and the checks and balances have already claimed a governor! Overall, it is a remarkable story given the short time span over which the transition took place.

But like in every life endeavour, challenges galore. Concerns over the prudent management of finances and accountability have been raised. EACC is investigating a number of counties over alleged corruption.

Some county governments have been cited for wastage and opulence. Still, others have yet to develop adequate human resource capacity.

Above all, there have been incidences of sour relationships between the county executives and the county assemblies over independence, accountability, supremacy and other mundane issues.

They have introduced taxes and levies that hinder trade and investments rather than facilitate it. Most are just discovering the potential that still lies unexploited in their counties.

None of these challenges are in within the ambit of the Presidency. To its credit, the Executive has given the counties independence to chart their own course as envisaged by the Constitution.

They have extended support and cooperation through the devolution ministry and other institutions to boot.

If parliament has not executed its mandate in regards to counties positively, especially with regards to resource allocation, that failure cannot be shared with the Executive.

Clearly then, devolution cannot be an agenda for Saba Saba! If ‘Baba’ didn’t know, devolution baby grew while he was away, and is up and about and no longer crawling! ‘Baba’ take a second look!