Outcome of governorship polls offers hope for devolution

Charity Ngilu has been elected the governor of Kitui County. 

In a demonstration of the power of accountability at the grassroots, several incumbent governors failed to win re-election on Tuesday. Newcomers will run key counties such as Nairobi, Kisumu, Nakuru, Kiambu, Meru, Kitui, among others. We are yet to have any basis for judging the governors-elect. But I think it is fair to say that the incumbents’ loss in these counties is a sign that Kenyans are serious about making devolution work. Simply put, Kenyans are hungry for public goods and services that match their local needs.

Looking at the cast of governors that will lead our counties over the next five years, I am particularly excited about the possibility of experimentation and cross-pollination. In Kitui and Kisumu, we will have social democrats and veterans of the defunct Social Democratic Party -- Charity Ngilu and Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o. Both politicians have national stature and will be under local and national pressure to deliver. Both also have extensive Cabinet-level experience, which ought to serve them well in their duties as governors. They know how the Kenyan system works. Will they create Kenya’s Keralas?