This is how we can convert counties into productive units of excellence

By Kamotho Waiganjo

Last weekend, I attended the launch of the Murang’a County at Ihura Stadium in Murang’a. Media focus was naturally on the fanfare, including the vigorous dancing (Murang’a is the uncontested home of Kikuyu music) and the fireworks at noon.

Beneath this show was a phenomenon that could redefine local development. In all the years I have attended events in this district of my birth, I have never sensed the excitement that was at Ihura, especially among young professionals and business people. For many of these elite, many of whom were visiting Murang’a for the first time, the sole motivation for attending the pre-launch meetings was their desire to be actively involved in the process of converting their county into a productive unit of excellence. There was little discussion about how to access central government revenue. There was little talk of positions. Indeed, the highlight of the meeting was the declaration by business mogul Peter Munga that he would not seek any elective position in the county. May his kind be the majority.

This movement by professionals and business elite has been replicated in a number of counties, including Kisumu, Kericho, and Kiambu. If the momentum is sustained, and if it is well directed, it may provide the impetus for rural development and rescue many counties from the sloth that has been associated with local development initiatives.

Naturally media attention has focused on political meetings whose agenda has been distribution of seats in the Senate and counties, largely between octogenarians. That is democracy and it must not distract from the possibilities that this movement to rejuvenate the counties economically is creating.

To be sustainable and produce results, I propose the following to this nascent movement: First, the forums must be guided by clear principles if they are not to be hijacked by persons with baser motives. These principles and values must be negotiated and adopted in the formative stages. I would, for example, suggest that anyone seeking to lead such initiatives should declare they would not seek elective office. In this way the forums are not seen as launching pads for political careers.

Second, they must set their agendas clearly and revisit the provisions of the new Constitution so that they are guided by the boundaries of county responsibilities.

Third, they should avoid being elitist. It is very easy to assume from the comfort of Nairobi that we can comprehend the problems of our home counties, determine their solutions, and proceed to implement. Anyone who has been involved in development work knows that it is not enough to be right, you must also be credible. They must therefore integrate with local initiatives.

Finally, they must know that this is a long journey, which is not for the fainthearted. If they stay the course, they may give meaning to the new Constitution in a way that pays massive dividends to them and posterity.