Devolution at crossroads: Counties struggle with dependency and graft

President William Ruto and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga samples products at the Devolution Conference on August 13, 2025. [Michael Mute, Standard] When Kenya adopted devolution in 2013, it was hailed as a transformative step to unite a fractured nation, spur grassroots development, and promote social justice. Thirteen years later, that dream is dimmed by a stark reality: many counties remain little more than 'distribution units' waiting for the national government's cheque - crippled by incompetence and riddled with corruption. Professor Peter Kagwanja, CEO of the Africa Policy Institute, says the rot began at the foundation and has persisted for over a decade. "If you must fix something, fix it at the initial stage... We are now in the third cycle of devolution. If we have not got it right, we shall never get it right," he said. He argues the Constitution envisioned counties as productive hubs, not administrative outposts. The intention, Prof. Kagwanja says, was to create "productive units of development," not administrative outposts waiting for handouts. Instead, most governors have opted for the easier route: collecting minimal local taxes, paying salaries, and lobbying for bigger national transfers. "The result? A system where political alignment with the president often determines who gets "the fruits" of development, reviving the same centralised dependency devolution sought to end," he added. The statement was echoed by policy and governance expert Philip Kisia. "You cannot claim to be independent if you cannot feed or finance yourself," said Kisia. "We are on the third cycle of devolution, and most counties solely depend on transfers from the national government, which is a big disaster. If these counties were private sector entities, they would have been shut down long ago." Kisia noted that even the smallest county has received over Sh30 billion in the past 12 years, yet many are still worse off than before. "In the private sector," Kisia notes, "such an entity would be run by the best. Instead, we have given blue-chip companies to corrupt and incompetent managers. Many of our governors, if they applied for jobs in a serious firm, wouldn't even be hired as clerks," Kisia said. The Auditor General's reports paint a grim picture of ethnic bias in employment, inflated procurement, ghost projects, and billions lost to dubious deals while citizens still lack basic services. Several governors have faced court over graft allegations, from suspended procurement chiefs in Nairobi to multi-million shilling tender scandals in Migori, Samburu, and Kiambu. Yet convictions remain rare, and politicians often reward, rather than punish, those accused. However, Kisia says it's a shame to see that some counties are worse off than they were three cycles ago. "Social justice should be based on what you have, not what you expect to be given. The funds from the national government should be used for core development, not as a lifeline," Kagwanja said. He further revealed that the challenge is not just in the waste, but in the lost potential-with local resources, innovation, and accountable leadership, Kenyan counties could rival some of the best-run regions in the world. "We are oscillating between those who think Kenya is stronger with an imperial presidency and those who believe it's stronger when the grassroots blossom like a thousand flowers," Kagwanja added.

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Devolution at crossroads: Counties struggle with dependency and graft

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