Special Paper No. 36 of 2024 on Devolution at 10 years: Achievements and Opportunities for Kenya

Abstract

This study evaluates the achievements of the objectives of devolution as spelt out by the Kenyan Constitution in the 10 years of its implementation. Understanding both the successes and challenges of devolution is essential for enhancing local governance, promoting accountability and ensuring equitable resource distribution, among others. A successful implementation of devolution is critical for an inclusive development process. While 23 out of 47 counties achieved above-average scores of 0.54 in devolution-related areas, significant disparities persist. Several key areas of concern have emerged across counties that exhibited low scores, highlighting the need for concerted efforts to make devolution a success. Many counties, particularly those in arid and semi-arid regions, recorded alarming deficiencies in access to skilled health personnel and education. Places like Turkana, Garissa, Wajir and Samburu showed particularly low percentages in critical indicators, including overall poverty incidence, births attended by skilled health personnel and primary net enrollment ratios. Additionally, the average scores for promoting democratic and accountable governance were concerningly low, with 23 counties falling below the average, indicating a decline in civic engagement and participation in democratic processes. Furthermore, the decline in voter turnout, despite better compliance in other areas, reveals a gap in civic participation, suggesting that many citizens are disengaged from the democratic process. Moreover, the persistent underperformance in public procurement compliance among county executives exacerbates these issues, undermining accountability and transparency. The low sharing of information for public participation in decision-making processes is also of significant concern. Further, inadequate checks and balances within county governments have resulted in diminished oversight and accountability mechanisms.