Devolution: Away with the doomsayers

The best thing to have ever happened to Kenya is the constitution of Kenya 2010.

To be more specific, it is gratifying that it came complete with a chapter of devolution.

While the government on face value claims to be committed to rolling out devolution, it is not lost on keen observers that a largely conservative and reactionary cast cannot and probably will not let go of power easily.

The constitutions reorganised the centre of power and in the process, it set out to, at least in theory, "recognise the right of communities to manage their own affairs and to further their development."

The problem with this is that it reorganised the architecture of state by the stroke of the pen. It became the single biggest threat to personal power since independence. It set out to banish misrule forever.

Of late there has been sustained propaganda from the legislature and central government to paint county governments as total failures. Of course the truth is starkly in contrast with this naked and brazen propaganda.

If we took for instance the claim that counties have wasted lots of money in unfruitful and unnecessary foreign travel, the national assembly, senate and central government are worse culprits in this sorry affair.

If one cared to check, you will find that counties as diverse as Lamu, Siaya, Mandera and Busia; all these boast of something however mundane.

You will find health centers, clinics, hospitals, ambulances, slaughter houses, cooling plants, service motorboats, agricultural in-puts; in sum, infrastructure and services have been provided in two years in areas where successive governments had not made any meaningful contribution for 50 years.

It is gratifying to note that The Standard has deliberately set out to celebrate devolution under the series "Devolution@Work."

In an era of cynical media, it is noteworthy that the Standard Group has set out to support the constitution and democracy in this manner.

This at a time when leading media houses have more or less been contracted by the government at Nairobi to pour scorn on governors and undermine devolution.

A good case in point is the controversy of leased medical equipment for county hospitals by the central government. As of writing, the Cabinet Secretary for Health has refused to make public the deal between them and the suppliers of the equipment.

Even if we were to ignore everything else, the CS is in breach of the basic provision of right to information in possession of a public official. The Attorney General is conveniently silent.

The Constitution Implementation Commission has been ignored and queries not answered. But more germane, why would someone sit in Nairobi and dream up what counties need?

Why would media houses, which want to earn our respect, be cheer leaders for an arrogant Government out to defeat devolution at every opportunity?

Experts have wondered aloud why the said scheme is heavy with diagnostics equipment. Why not preventive and curative components?

Why wouldn't government, if it so cared for the health of poor rural folk, not release money for county health workers on time every time?

We are told, that governors, most of whom are highly learned and people with much experience in public administration, should sign, indeed must sign for this equipment scheme blind folded and at gunpoint, as it were.

The Constitution ordains that both levels of government must have mutual respect for each other.

The National Government cannot look down upon county governments who enjoy executive and constitutional power bestowed upon them the people through votes and on the occasion of Kenyans giving themselves the Constitution.

Yet as a parting shot, governors must one and all tell off the Government at Nairobi.

They should make it known that the National Government can't perpetually bully them for pleasure.

Short of that, the propaganda machinery at the disposal of Nairobi, not to mention connivance by sections of the media will see us constantly apologise for instead of being proud of devolution.