County chiefs are living large while undermining devolution

I often criticise President Uhuru Kenyatta’s policies and actions without any hesitation, where it warrants. His recent allocation of Sh1 billion to miraa farmers in Meru is one such decision that I think is misguided. Miraa has long been classified as an abuse substance by World Health Organisation and consequently banned in several Western nations. Locally, attempts by NACADA to classify it as a drug, or regulate its use, have been frustrated by the State. Somalis, who are the main consumers in this country continue to bear the brunt, with many lives destroyed, families devastated and education of youth disrupted by this addictive drug whose abuse continues unabated.

In our political dispensation, such a decision to fund farmers should be the preserve of the county governments. Equally, the decision to keep the youth in North Eastern away from miraa through appropriate legislation and keep this substance out of our counties also lies with our county governments. So, what level of government is not playing its role effectively? The just-concluded Meru conference on devolution was meant to address these and other challenges, both real and perceived, that have set both levels of government working in apparent disharmony. Last year, I wrote in this column that devolution was at a crossroads, and it is the governors who will either make it or break it through their actions. A year later, I am more inclined to believe that our governors are gradually killing the spirit of devolution in the country.