Money and power at heart of senators’ coup

Among the structures that devolution came up with was the creation of the offices of senators and governors. The two were to perform distinct but somewhat interlocked functions in the new governance structure that took services closer to the people. While the governor's role is to oversee the running of their respective counties with executive authority over certain functions (without reference to the national government), senators act as the link between the national government and county governments. They also play an oversight role over governors in the management of county funds.

From the outset, not many people, least of all the legislators, understood how devolution worked. It was a new concept that was being experimented with; the pros and cons of it still unknown. That uncertainty is what led some to vie for the senator seat while others opted for the governor's seat. As devolution took root, it became apparent which side of the bread in the devolved governance structure was buttered. In fact, the Senate and the National Assembly have been at loggerheads most of the time, fighting over who should do what. Evidently, the Senate has been the unlucky one. The National Assembly enjoys more say and power on critical matters that impact on the country.

Even on the oversight role, the Senate has been ineffectual in bringing governors to account. Though on this, the courts have played a significant role in reducing the powers of the Senate through injunctions. In the end, Senators have realised their offices are less glamorous than they originally believed and many have shifted focus and now want to unseat their governors in 2017.

While no governor has expressed the wish to vie for senator in 2017, their fight with senators has always been over money, so it is easy to understand the motivation to be a governor. All the more reason to make it harder for the holders of the officer to dip their fingers in the till. Though it is easy to view the jostling as democracy at work, the urge to pull the purse strings is evidently the biggest motivator and citizens should not be deluded it is because governors have failed and that senators are better managers.