Two years on; devolution fruits can be seen, felt

Mutua Alfred (right), the Machakos Governor reprimands his deputy Bernard Kiala for allegedly working secretly with some MCAs to have him impeached. [PHOTO- ERIC ABUGA/STANDARD]

For anyone who doubted that devolution would ever work, the recently concluded devolution conference in Kisumu should be an answer to that question.

But perhaps the best answer is the recent survey indicating the performance of counties.

Almost 50 years after independence, Kenyans now have a thing or two to feel proud about; an agenda or project that the national government, hitherto, never cared about.

Thinking of those successes, Machakos County comes to mind. Governor Alfred Mutua, whose county came number one is a living testimony that devolution can turn around the state of affairs.

Until January 2013, Machakos was seen as a stagnant region. It was ridiculed for lack of water, food and other basic essentials. In fact, relief food was associated with the county and the entire Ukambani region.

Dr Mutua has changed that narrative. In his first year of leadership, he successfully enhanced the health sector through improved services and purchase of 70 ambulances.

If the spirit and resolve of Mutua can be replicated to other parts of the country, then Kenya would grow tremendously.

And for devolution to work, the various levels of leadership need to support each other. If the country leadership would work together, Kenya would grow fast and become an oasis of economic growth.