President Uhuru Kenyatta backs devolution, says it will spur economic growth

By Stephen Makabila

A day after recalling Provincial Commissioners (PCs), President Uhuru has retaliated his Government’s commitment to see the devolved system of government succeed.

In his speech during this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations at Nyayo National Stadium yesterday, the President noted he personally believes the success of devolution will herald Jubilee’s agenda for Kenyans. 

“Devolution will not only facilitate delivery of services and ensure equity but will also lead to the emergence of new centres of economic development,” he said.

President Uhuru had on Friday recalled seven PCs whose titles had been changed to regional commissioners after the March 4 elections.

The President also assured Kenyans his Government would ensure conclusion of the restructuring of the Provincial Administration as the Constitution requires.

Apart from the PCs, he noted he had directed other provincial Heads of Department be redeployed.

Elected Governors have been demanding recall of the 47 county commissioners, whom they have clashed with over who holds real power at the county levels.

The Jubilee Government had also been accused severally by CORD leaders of undermining devolution.

However, Uhuru who recalled the PCs after meeting with Devolution and Planning Secretary Anne Waiguru and Bomet Governor Isaac Rutto, said in his Madaraka Day speech that through enactment of various legislations, the National Government had continued to realign its functions and the process of transfer of functions to the county governments had started. “The National Government will continue to give support to the county governments through capacity building. I pledge to promote cooperation and consultation as provided for in the Constitution to enhance synergy and cooperation between the two levels of Government for the benefit of all Kenyans,” he added.

He urged Governors and other leaders at the county level to focus critically on growing county economies. “I urge leaders to enlighten Kenyans that even as we implement devolution, Kenya remains one indivisible nation,” he added.

The President directed the ministry of Devolution and Planning to move forward with the strategy for implementation of integrated service delivery  into “one stop shop” Citizen Service Delivery Centres.