Devolution dividend still within grasp for Kenyans

Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Kiprono Kittony

Of all the sweeping reforms the 2010 Constitution introduced, none has received as much attention as devolution. Decentralisation of power, which was officially implemented after the March 4, 2013, General Election, radically changed Kenya’s political, economic and social landscape.

Analysts were convinced devolution would ensure the equitable sharing of resources between developed urban areas, such as Nairobi, and marginalised communities at the grassroots. The country was ready to reap what development economists referred to as the “devolution dividend”. But four years later, the outlook on devolution is not so rosy.