THE DEVOLUTION CROSS-ROADS!

Our much anticipated devolution is slowly turning into a monster, at least to a considerable chunk of the Kenyan populace. Disillusionment and apathy is slowly taking over the eerie and zeal that we had on 27^th August 2010, as we promulgated the new law at a colorful ceremony at Uhuru Park. The world came to witness and tossed the chalice with us. Kenya was simply a darling of many! But years down the line, this is not all a bed of roses as we thought. No, it is not! 

The country is on two minds; some say that the seats are unnecessarily many, roles have been duplicated and yes, different seats yet the same responsibility. This is why the woman representative has been proposed for the chopping board, alongside other MPs and senators. Governors are not that safe too! All this are over-bulging an already bloated wage bill!

However, there is a side that has been rather overlooked may perhaps give us an answer to correcting our devolution. It lies in the moral and social consciousness of the Kenyan society, and our elected, nominated and appointed leaders should listen to this. They would then reconsider going on a soul-searching voyage to re-evaluate what leadership really entails.

Leadership is service to the people, and standing up to be counted upon by those who chose you as their leader. It is not about being self-centered and amassing wealth at the expense of poverty and problem afflicted population, no it is not.Leadership is not about getting fuel-guzzling cars, being exorbitant on getting flashy offices and residential houses and spending big on trips, all at the expense of quality service delivery. No it is not. Leadership is putting the greater good of the people above all personal and individualistic endeavors.

When it comes to political leadership the Kenyan style, one thing is for sure; it is about the selfish and personal interests of the leaders, the rest come in distant second. They will gallantly fight for increased salaries, exemptions from paying tax, grants to buy cars, increased budgets under their watch, never mind that accountability and transparency is non-existent to them and all manner of reasons to help their selfish and individualistic interests. Then you add the corruption scams and the misappropriation of public funds, and the list gets murkier!

If our county assemblies members, MPs, women representatives, senators and governors were the ideal products of a morally sound society, whereby social justice and patriotism ruled, would we still be thinking of reducing all these posts? No, I do not think so. On the contrary, we would be having overs 1400 MCA’s, 350-plus MPs, 47 Governors and senators, each correctly and prudently managing their area of jurisdiction. This would translate to a maiden walk in devolution that would be the perfect recipe to develop our beloved nation.

Devolution is the cure to brightening up the marginalized Northern Kenya, alleviating the impoverished Coast, enhancing healthcare to all Kenyans, improving security, taking our road infrastructure to the next level and ensuring that all social amenities are readily available and in the best quality possible. Devolution is the easiest yet surest way to realize Vision 2030! To the brainy head that gave birth to devolved governance in Kenya, the best interests of the nation were at heart.

However, devolution has been hijacked by selfish and self-centered individuals who see it as the easiest road to amassing wealth and plundering public coffers. Car grants, increased perks and all sorts of monetary benefits are the priorities. Service delivery to the populace of most of the counties is slowly being relegated to the back-foot!

Political pronunciations aside, this country Kenya risks being milked dry. The president publicly said it; yes, we risk running bankrupt. We are running with the risk of a bankrupt central government and equally bankrupt devolved governments. We must clump down on this lustful and egocentric desire for money and more money, increased perks, increased salaries, allowances and extravagant spilling of public money by some of those charged with the responsibility of steering devolution in all the 47 counties.

The Swahilis say, Chanda chema huvikwa pete. We  must laud those who are diligently making devolution work for the greater good of Kenya! Those who belong to the class of Dr. Alred Mutua, the Machakos County boss!