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Governors on Tuesday listed improved healthcare, good roads and agriculture as some of the major successes of devolution. The leaders said devolution had made a positive mark in the lives of Kenyans two years since its inception, saying it had brought equitable distribution of resources. Speaking on the sidelines of the Devolution Conference at Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu, the county bosses said Kenyans can now access subsidised fertiliser, more than 7,000 kilometres of roads had been tarmacked and health care improved. The leaders cited a case in Mandera County, where a baby was delivered through Caesarean section, the first in the region, as a major plus. Council of Governors chairman Isaac Ruto cited lighting of various towns, equipping of ECD schools and polytechnics, mechanisation and modernisation of agriculture, provision of education bursaries and improvement of trade and partnerships with private sector as their other successes. Said the Bomet Governor: “We have opened up places and town that did not know development in the last 50 years. We have put a smile on the faces of millions of Kenyans and all of us should work to promote devolution.” Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma said service delivery has been efficient and beneficial to citizens because of devolution. “Devolution has been welcomed with high expectations as a way of erasing the socio-economic tribulations in one stroke,” he said. Mr Ranguma said revenue collection had improved in his county following the introduction of an electronic system.
RELEASE FUNDS
Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, who read the resolutions made during the first conference in Kwale County last year, said: “We hope the Treasury will stick to their deadlines of releasing funds to avoid delaying implementation of county projects.” For his part, Lamu Governor Issa Timamy said boundary disputes among counties is a threat to regional unity. “Counties are wasting a lot of money taking cases to court instead of using the alternative means to address them,” he said. Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga accused the national government of not consulting counties before making key decisions. “They have been playing the big brother. The wrangles we hear of are because of poor consultation. For instance, the government entered a medical equipment contract for the counties without involving them,” he said. Wajir Governor Abdullahi Mohammed said the county government has been working hard to address basic needs of people in the region that was marginalised for decades. He said they had built and revived up to 37 hospitals. Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya asked the leaders to work together to promote intergovernmental relations. Kisii governor Evans Ongwae called for additional funding to the counties, saying the current allocation is too little. Meanwhile, US ambassador Robert Godec praised counties for engaging in public-private partnership, saying it had attracted a lot of donor funding, which was not possible before.