Boggling Facts: Devolution's Broken Promise in Machakos County
The promise was grand, etched into the very fabric of Kenya's 2010 Constitution. Devolution, a revolutionary concept, was designed to be the antidote to decades of centralized governance, a system that had long left the majority of Kenyans feeling disenfranchised and neglected. The objective was simple yet profound: to bring development closer to the people, empowering communities and reducing their dependence on the national government. The constitution, in Articles 174, 175, and 176, laid out a clear blueprint for this new dispensation, establishing county governments with the mandate to serve as the engines of local progress. It was a system that envisioned real public participation, where the voices of ordinary citizens would be the compass guiding the allocation of resources and the implementation of projects. The people were supposed to be the architects of their own future, part of the decision-making on where, when, and how development should be done.
But for many in Machakos
County, the promise has soured. The reality on the ground is a stark contrast
to the noble ideals enshrined in the constitution. Public participation, a
cornerstone of devolution, has become a cruel charade, a theatrical performance
devoid of substance. Instead of a forum for genuine dialogue, these sessions
have devolved into an arena for political gimmicks and personal vendettas.
Take, for instance, the behaviour of Governor Wavinya Ndeti. Her public
participation gatherings are reportedly accompanied by a large entourage of
hangers-on, individuals with no essential duties other than to eat and fleece
the public purse. The sessions are not about listening to the needs of
"mwananchi" but rather about using the platform to lambast and insult
local Members of Parliament and Members of County Assembly.
This political posturing
is perhaps most evident in Masii, a burgeoning business and agricultural hub.
Instead of concentrating on implementing strategies to enhance business and
agricultural production, the governor is allegedly preoccupied with insulting
the area MP, Hon Eng. Vincent Kawaya. She is said to be inciting
"wananchi" to vandalize and deface the Kawaya stadium, a facility
spruced up through the efforts of the local representative. This is a clear
case of misplaced priorities, where collaboration for the betterment of the
community is sacrificed at the altar of political rivalry. The people of Masii
deserve a government that works with their elected leaders to make their
community better, not one that is busy politicking and spewing vitriol.
The disregard for public
resources is even more staggering. In the same Masii, a staggering 200 million
shillings was reportedly sunk into the construction of a stadium at Kwa Itinga
Dam, yet there is absolutely nothing to show for it. A borehole, a misplaced
priority sunk on the river banks, was neglected and vandalized along with its
solar panels. This is not just incompetence; it is a clear display of wanton
corruption and a gross wastage of public money. The fresh produce shed, a
project from the economic stimulus programme, lies neglected and unused, having
now turned into a den of thugs and a brothel. These are not isolated incidents;
they are symptomatic of a deeper malaise, a systemic failure to manage public
funds and deliver tangible results for the people.
The decay is visible in
the very heart of the county. The Machakos People's Park and the Machakos
Convention Centre, facilities constructed by the previous regime with bloated,
unsubstantiated budgets, are now neglected and in a state of disrepair. The
once well-manicured lawns of the People's Park are now overgrown with thickets
and shrubs. The pavements are full of overgrown grass, a lack of innovation and
a clear display of laziness. This neglect is not unique to these facilities. Mountains
of uncollected garbage, neglected feeder roads, and a host of other in
competencies litter the county. The lack of proper sewerage systems means that
industrial and human waste is emptied into the Athi River, a callous act that
has contributed to a myriad of ailments, including the deadly scourge of cancer
downstream. The county government, in a display of a cavalier attitude, has
been silent on this critical environmental and health issue.
With its proximity to
Nairobi City and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Machakos County should be
a beacon of economic prosperity. It has a ready market and access to export
channels for fresh produce, an opportunity that could be of great economic
significance to its people. The Mavoko sub-county, a clear industrial zone,
should be attracting investors with enticing incentives. But instead, the
county executive, backed by the assembly, keeps on increasing unnecessary
levies and charges, making it hard for businesses to thrive. This is a
government that exhibits clear incompetence, if not outright ignorance, of its
core mandate. The apex of this failure is the fact that the Controller of
Budget has not approved the county's budget due to its failure to answer audit
queries and present basic but fundamental annual plans that are a prerequisite
for any form of approval.
The people of Machakos
are yet to fully understand and feel the significance of the 2010 Constitution
that brought about devolution. The promise of development has been betrayed by
a leadership that prioritizes political rivalries over service delivery and
personal enrichment over public good. I implore the Members of County Assembly
to exercise their constitutional mandate of oversight, to put the executive on
its toes and make it work for the people. Let us not allow the resources meant
for the people of Machakos to be squandered, enriching a few individuals on
your watch. It is time for accountability, for a return to the true spirit of
devolution, and for the promise to be finally fulfilled.
Topical
Team
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