Governors keen to deliver on devolution promise

KAKAMEGA: Many proponents of devolution argue rightly that it is a multi-dimensional approach, which defines governance along political and corporate lines. The political goodwill gives confidence to elected leaders that indeed they have the mandate of the people to be in office, while the corporate governance aspect ensures that the counties are managed with integrity, fairness, and transparency.

Devolution is therefore not an angular or linear transfer of power and purpose from the national government to county governments as has been touted by many.

Today, as we move towards the close of our second year in office, we, the 47 governors, acknowledge and celebrate our conquests and successes even as we confront the challenges and take stock of our responsibilities.

Devolution has allowed us to reach the lowest households in service delivery. It therefore, remains our strategic objective to ensure that all programmes initiated are in consultation and consensus with all the stakeholders to ensure high impact.

As a council, we have had systemic challenges that have hampered the envisaged state and speed of service delivery to the 47 counties. These challenges are aggravated by geographical disparity and endemic infrastructural challenges but more so, the unforeseen transitional issues such as the predictable anxiety and apathy towards a new system.

Even though this slowed down our planned approaches to structuring and reforms, two years on, the capacity is building and the challenges are fewer and more specific.

The two levels of government have created good opportunities for engagement and accelerated development for Kenyans at a closer level. The mutual interactions have continued to ensure that there is now little, if any, duplication of service and enhanced service delivery.

Of great note is the insufficient investment in social, institutional and environmental determinants key to the successful implementation of devolution, and a clear means of addressing the same.

Most Kenyans still do not know the responsibilities of the two levels of government. We need continuous engagement and discussions to enable citizens better manage new and growing expectations of the gains of devolution.  Addressing these challenges in an effective and co-ordinated way is essential to enhancing service delivery and improving the lives of Kenyans, especially the most vulnerable population.

We remain persuaded that even in wealthier environments and counties, uneven access to information and services of varying quality undermine the achievement of national health targets. It is only through equitable service provision that we can reduce social inequities, which is one of the major tenets of the Constitution

 

As far as strengthening leadership systems is concerned, the Constitution gave guidance on the roles and responsibilities of the various offices and institutions. It, however, did not unpack the leadership systems and how these would be strengthened to ensure that the commitment to deliver is achieved and replicated at all levels. The gap is that the Constitution being a legal instrument, does not set out a clear strategy, indicating in detail how it will progressively strengthen systems, or provide clear targets and indicators of performance for all key institutions.

Such a working and harmonised strategy document is necessary for all institutions to relate and appreciate their roles and functions without being subject to interpretation or misinterpretation.

We appreciate the role that development partners have played in focuing on bilateral programmes and the promotion of sound partnership principles, which remain instrumental in establishing thought leadership in system strengthening. This is why we, as a council, feel that the Development Partners Forum is very important.

We are committed to leading in strengthening systems, being the key implementing institution of devolution. But that is not enough; we still need an active and interactive partnership structure that disseminates information collectively, objectively, and in a timely manner.

The Council of Governors is committed to social accountability both as a system of governance and as a duty to the people who put us in office. We must ensure that we deliver on the promise of devolution and help realise the dreams of many Kenyans.

{Mr Oparanya is the Governor of Kakamega County}