NAIROBI: Devolution continues to encounter challenges in every step of the way. The teething hiccups are not likely to be out of sight soon if the never ending melee between the County and National Government is anything to go by. For the last two years, the new structures of governance, and in particular the devolution, have been treated like the proverbial new visitor in Jerusalem. The State officials and the citizens doubtlessly alike are sunk into abyss of deep running consternation.
Many Kenyans appear not to have appreciated the full reach of the system of devolution. Perhaps, this can be explained from the point of view of what a constitutional order really entails. Real constitutional order obtains when a nation’s tapestry of thought composes of a fabric of positive attitude and genuine veneration for change. Unluckily, this is missing in Kenya.
In spite of the introduction of the new system of governance that came hot on the heels of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, the old system is still much alive in us and remains the foundation determinant that defines the attitude of many Kenyans. One main reason why devolution appears worst hit by these challenges lies in the fact that its realisation largely depends on the political willingness of the national government to loosen its grip of the decentralised units.
Well, even Rome was not built in one day. Hence, the challenges we are experiencing with the devolution should not come as a surprise.
The latest to join in the fray are the governors. Whilst I am keen to give the devil his due and offer a congratulatory pat on the back where such is deserved, I haste to call a spade a spade. Indeed the governors have done us proud and despite numerous challenges, they are constantly on the lookout to dispel any bid to rob the county governments of relevance.
However, their main undoing, is that they are also engaged in excessive muscle flexing, which means that they too have refused to shed off the old wine skin in order to embrace the new way of life. For instance, their resistance towards the recent move by the national government to equip hospitals is clearly in a bad light.
It bodes ill for the constitutional implementation process for governors to pour scorn on everything that national government does. Perhaps, as the old adage goes, it is in the nature of old dogs not to be taught new tricks and if an attempt is made then society must brace for some resistance. It is in such times that one gets inescapably behoved to make music stanzas out of the Constitution and sing aloud for them to decipher their duties in this respect.
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