Devolution encouraging corruption and negative ethnicity, Church claims

Kenya: The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, Justice and Peace Commission now claim devolution is encouraging corruption and negative ethnicity.

Speaking Thursday at the social transformation conference at Tangaza College, the commission's chairman Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth said that corruption is evident in recruitment of county staff, issuance of tenders, allocation of resources and awarding scholarships.

"Devolution seems to have a negative effect. It has brought a new wave of ethnic marginalization," said Archbishop Okoth.

The commission stated that superiority contests among office holders in the devolved system is interfering with service provision to the citizens, making devolution not live up to Kenyans expectations.

"Fights between the Senate and the National Assembly, governors and senators, and the Ministry of Land and National Land Commission are affecting service delivery to Kenyans," said the Archbishop.

Late disposal of funds by the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA), and poor planning at the county level are also blamed for the slow absorption of funds in counties.

The commission revealed that low public and private participation in critical governance issues affect devolution, and makes citizens not aware of their part in the devolved system.

"The county governments invite citizens to the halls without facilitating participation. Citizens are not able to play their role," said Archbishop Okoth.

The commission also said that the county assemblies have entered unholy unions to defraud the counties, where they use impeachment as a threat to ensure their demands are met.

The commission recommended that the county officials should be sensitized on legal mechanisms for public participation, to ensure meaningful participation and involvement of citizens.

The commission also suggested that comprehensive civic education should be carried out to create awareness, and politicians should cease making inflammatory statements as this encourages ethnicity in the country.