HOW WELL DO YOU UNDERSTAND DEVOLVED GOVERNANCE? A CASE STUDY OF UASIN GISHU COUNTY.

 

DEVOLUTION ARTICLE ON UASIN COUNTY.

Devolved governance in Kenya and like most devolved governments in other parts of the world

is a form of local government where there is transfer of governance responsibilities for specified

functions to sub-national level which in the Kenyan context are the counties and they have a

certain level of autonomy from the national government though they are answerable to the same.

Chapter 2 of the new Kenyan constitution; The Republic has a number of articles which among

them is Article 6 which focuses on devolution and access to services. Following the inauguration

of the August 2010 Kenyan constitution, new areas were opened up to gain developmental

success which had initially been hampered by marginalization. County governments in the

country work under auspice of the constitutional framework which is well explained in the

document. This is well stipulated in the First Schedule and Fourth Schedules of the constitution

which states that all counties and distribution of functions between the national and county

governments.

Uasin Gishu County under the First Schedule of the Kenyan constitution is 27th. It has a

population estimated to be 1.5 million people. The constitution outlays the whole consolidated

framework of county governments in Chapter 11 on Devolved Government. The County in line

with the Fourth Schedule, has had a number of projects which have been initiated and completed

by both levels of governance.

NATIONAL AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT PROJECTS.

The Governor, H.E Jackson Kiplagat Mandago in line with Article 174 of the constitution has

overseen the formulation and implementation of some development projects. In his first term, the

Governor focused much on strengthening development plans in the county through collaboration

with French government which focuses on health, water and sanitation, culture and sports and

education. He partnered with Robert-Debre Hospital in Paris in order to improve maternal

healthcare. This would be done through proper training while at the same time providing the

best facilities and equipment to enhance the same.

The Governor also initiated a number of other notable projects with the same being operational.

He oversaw construction of milk cooling plants, poultry farming projects which partnered with

the Inua Mama Na Kuku program as well as the Youth empowerment projects in partnership

with the Kijana Na Acre program.

The national government also initiated a number of projects in the county as well. The

government launched the construction of the Eldoret-Webuye road at a cost of Ksh 5.2 billion.

Many households in the county estimated to be more than 200,000 were connected with

electricity while at the same time launched construction of street lights at a cost of Ksh 374

million. The government through the Digital Literacy Programme distributed more than 12,000

tablets to 285 primary schools which ensured efficient teaching and learning process.

Indeed, there is need for the county government to put much emphasis on the urgent needs of the

residents and it should be applicable to almost all of them. There is need for the county to set

policies on how to combat some challenges like water rationing though this is underway through

the construction of dams in a number of wards. Cultural heritage ought to be embraced through

the county setting up cultural centres and well as a cultural day to celebrate the same. This will

supersede the obvious challenges that have been in existence like the county being quoted to be

among those on top of spreading hate speech by the National Cohesion and Integration

Commission (NCIC).

Kilonzo J. Mutie is a political science student at Maseno University. He serves as the Secretary General of Maseno University Political Science Students' Association (MUPOSSA).

For comments and enquiries:

kilonzomutie41@yahoo.com

X (Twitter): @mutie_kilonzo