Animating Devolution In Kenya

Kenya adopted a new Constitution and began the process of devolution in 2010. The new Constitution was the institutional response to longstanding grievances over the centralization of state powers and public sector resources, and regional disparities in service delivery and development outcomes. This radical restructuring of the Kenyan state has three main objectives: decentralizing political power, public sector functions, and public finances; ensuring a more equitable spatial distribution of resources between regions; and promoting more accountable, participatory, and responsive government at all levels. The first elections under the new Constitution were held in 2013. Alongside the national government, 47 new county governments were established. Each county government is made up of a County Executive, headed by an elected Governor and works under the oversight of an elected County Assembly. Seven years after the "devolution train" left the station, this report takes stock of how devolution has affected the delivery of devolved basic services to Kenyan citizens. Whereas devolution was driven by political reform, the ensuing institutions and systems were expected to deliver greater socioeconomic equity through devolved service delivery. The Making Devolution Work for Service Delivery (MDWSD) study is the first major assessment of Kenya’s devolution reform. The study was a jointly coordinated effort by the Government of Kenya and the World Bank. The study provides key messages with respect to what is working, what is not working, and what could work better to enhance service delivery based on the currently available data. It provides an independent assessment of service delivery performance in five sectors, namely health, education, agriculture, urban, and water services and includes an in-depth review of the main pillars of devolved service delivery, namely public financial management, intergovernmental finance, human resource management, politics and accountability.

Efficient delivery of public services in Africa and other developing regions has for a long time been hindered by highly centralized government bureaucracies (Mwabu et al., 2001). In Kenya, several efforts have been made to reduce unnecessary layers of government to make service provision to the populace more effective. This book reports on recent decentralization and devolution innovations in Kenya. The volume is organized into three parts and contains a total of 12 chapters including the introduction. The chapters in Part 1 (Structures and Institutions) provide a comprehensive analysis of institutional and organizational environment in which decentralization and devolution reforms have been taking place over the last three decades. Part 2 (Principles and Processes) contains chapters that clarify decentralization and devolution concepts, with applications to selected local authorities. The chapters in Part 3 (Service Delivery and Financing) illustrate advantages of provision and financing of services at the local level, with a focus on the role of community participation in improving accountability and efficiency in resource use.

This book discusses politics, media, social justice and democracy in Kenya. It shows how media has been used in promoting democracy and devolution in Kenya. On politics and media, the book has elaborated issues arising in the field of practicing journalism and politics. The book is divided into five chapters. Chapter One touches on social justice and democracy, nature of social justice and democracy in African and Kenya. Chapter Two deals with the concept of devolution, main objectives of devolution, benefits of devolution, history of devolution in Kenya, comparing Kenya's, Uganda's and Rwanda's decentralisation. Chapter Three covers media and devolution politics, media and good governance, and what Kenyan media has achieved in devolved governments. Chapter Four has media and politics; Kenyan media and politics, media and political conflict. Finally, Chapter Five discusses cartoon communication and democracy, Role of cartooning in social justice and democracy, and cartoon communication and social justice in Kenya. This book has some chapters that are researched. It is an important book for college and university students.

Kenya's new constitution marks a critical juncture in the nation's history. It is widely perceived, by Kenyans from all walks of life, as a new beginning. Indeed, many feel that post- independence Kenya has been characterized by centralization of political and economic power in the hands of a few, resulting in an uneven and unfair distribution of resources and corresponding access to social services; the opposite of an inclusive state. Born of the political opportunity created by the 2008 post-election violence, the constitution finally adopted, after almost a decade of unsuccessful reform attempts, presages far-reaching changes. Its vision encompasses a dramatic transformation of the Kenyan state through new accountable and transparent institutions, inclusive approaches to government and a firm focus on equitable service delivery for all Kenyans through the newly established county governments. Devolution is at the heart of the new constitution and a key vehicle for addressing spatial inequities. A more decentralized government makes eminent sense, given Kenya's diversity and experience with political use of central power. Decentralization has been increasingly seen and adopted worldwide as a guarantee against discretionary use of power by central elites as well as a way to enhance the efficiency of social service provision, by allowing for a closer match between public policies and the desires and needs of local constituencies. Kenya's constitution entrenches devolved government by guaranteeing a minimum unconditional transfer to counties under the new dispensation. The devolution train has already left the station: the challenge is to make sure it arrives at destination, safely and on time. The politics of devolution explain the high intensity of hopes and expectations that have been pinned to it. It also means there are high risks if they are disappointed. There are great opportunities and enormous challenges waiting for Kenya, in a critical election year, which will determine the fate of the country, politically and economically for years to come. This report takes a snapshot look at the critical issues facing Kenya's policy makers today. It does not argue for or against devolution (a decision that belongs solely to Kenyans), but presents suggestions and recommendations on how best to navigate the tough choices ahead. It's main focus in on helping Kenya manage a delicate transition.

Devolution has been hailed as a precursor towards Kenya's apotheosis. The Kenyan Constitution 2010 endorsed this dictum by providing devolution of power and resources as amongst the national values and principles. On the other hand, Kenyans have shown immense enthusiasm towards protecting this invention; crescendo of their craze being aired by the Council of Governors who have kept on blaming some unidentified 'gnomes of Harambee house' for harboring intentions to 'kill devolution.' How anybody would be such blood thirsty as to kill devolution is not easily discernible, but all these have come to be accepted as challenges of transition to devolved structures of Government. Nevertheless, there is huge faith in the structure to act as an antidote to various economic woes that have afflicted the country. But how has the experience been so far? As an introduction, this paper defines the concept of devolution as form of decentralization and traces the path Kenya has prodded towards designing it. It surveys the constitutional, statutory and case law anchorage of the devolution framework. Chapter Three of the paper plunges into the tempest of transition, elaborating on functional analysis, unbundling and phased transfer of functions to devolved structures. Chapter four elaborates in depth on the issues of the County Government planning and financing. Lastly, mechanisms of intergovernmental relations between the National and County Governments are reviewed.