Governors should have nowhere else to hide

Between 1970 and 2020, a godsend gentleman called Edward Williams greatly shaped the future by mentoring many young global citizens in politics and leadership.

Prof William, who taught at top US universities, was inspired by his commitment to good governance in a world weighed down by corruption. In his cause, the good professor was brutally honest when he said that he respected ordinary thieves than politicians.  

“Ordinary thieves take my money without pretense. Unlike politicians, these thieves don’t bore me with silly explanations of why their thievery is for the greater good…They don’t insult my intelligence that they’ll use the money stolen from me to make my life better than I would have made it myself had my money not been stolen,” he said.

Reminiscing on Prof William’s wisdom in the Kenyan context, devolution has become the new slick rat that bites Wanjiku, then gently blows on the wound as if it cares. How? Counties are firmly reinforcing our age-old problems of graft, poor prioritisation, and grandstanding.

In recent days, the national government and the Council of Governors have clashed badly over road funds. President William Ruto says the national government is best suited to manage the Roads Maintenance Levy Fund, but governors disagree.

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Dr Ruto fears, and rightly so, that overlapping responsibilities between national and county governments on roads are causing pricey inefficiencies. But governors, who’ve rushed to file a case at the High Court, accuse the President of ‘taking the country back to Nyayo days.’ Call it pure grandstanding!

When money matters arise, sharp tongues are wagged with flair. Ordinarily, you wouldn’t hear governors speak with much enthusiasm. Kisumu’s Anyang Nyong’o has taken to terse statements. Kirinyaga’s Ann Waiguru would say, ‘someone wakes up in the middle of projects and cuts them.’ In Trans Nzoia, George Natembeya beats up drums of war. Then in Nyeri, Mutahi Kagiha knows the value of a good trouble. Methinks the ongoing spat over funds is a vain escapade. It’s what others call being a genius on a sugar high. What we need is a conversation on accountability and the future of underperforming counties; only then can we trade barbs over more billions. The truth is that incompetence by some governors is what led to the inclination by the national government to want to ‘take back’ devolved functions. 

Money tussles, if any, can be thrashed out through intergovernmental relations channels that exist in law. Wanjiku is tired of popularity contests staged in press conferences whose ultimate aim is to secure more resources to stuff people’s fat bellies. 

Moreover, the day counties fully rise to the occasion as per the County Governments Act, the Public Finance Management Act, and Intergovernmental Relations Act, and the Constitution, the national government will have no reason or appetite to even imagine clawing back devolved functions.

Some counties have done so well on infrastructure, trade, production, and investment, but the quality of life for rural folks in many others remains poor. This is despite a decade of devolution that has seen counties get Sh3.6 trillion in equitable share and additional allocations. Isn’t this leadership failure?

Let’s just agree. More funding must come with greater accountability. Kenyans who do business with counties are owed billions of shillings, while well-connected individuals thrive. Surprisingly, some counties even have dedicated vehicles to transport the governor’s chair to meetings. And, why are some county chiefs ‘collaborating’ with MCAs to loot? In 2024, they splashed Sh17.6 billion on trips.

Wanjiku is asking: Are governors doing anything to promote innovation, sustainable livelihoods, and social inclusion? What have the so-called economically excelling counties done to uplift lagging ones, knowing that a train moves as fast as its slowest wagon? Look at how a ‘dimpled’ Nairobi is on a free-fall. 

There’s a need to strengthen local supply chains and bridge the rural-urban divide. The damage caused by county-level graft won’t be healed by theatrics. The conversation must shift to accountability. There’s nowhere to hide.