Power to make county leaders accountable lies in the hands of citizens

Members of the 12th Parliament during a State of the Nation address by President Uhuru Kenyatta on May 2, 2018. [Boniface Okendo/Standard]

Back in 2014, governors from seven counties in northern Kenya joined hands to form the Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC). The aim was to build capacity and co-ordinate the development of a region that, to many residents, had been left behind (Turkana was the latest entrant in 2017). It was not going to be easy getting well-equipped hospitals, functioning maternity wards, running water, good schools and paved roads to a region that lagged behind in all development indices.

To many, the power to finally decide their destiny was ecstasy. The people now knew who to hold accountable if development slackened or didn't "arrive”.