The 6th Annual Devolution Conference kicked off yesterday at Kirinyaga University, Kirinyaga County. The one-week event seeks to discuss various achievements made within the past year. It will also address the opportunities, challenges facing the county governments and they can be resolved.
Devolution has in a substantial way fostered national through the enhancement of national development inclusivity. This is a significant advantage as it has played a role in reducing the political and social risks brought about by area marginalization.
Through devolution, the needs of the people have been met as the area leaders can tailor developments to fit the area residents’ desires. Notably, County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs) should be aligned with ‘Big Four’ priorities and collaboration between the national and county governments, established by closing capacity gaps in legislation and budgeting.
On the other hand, devolution has faced various challenges among them being on how the national and county governments can be able to pull together towards delivering President Kenyatta’s Big Four Agenda.
County governments through their governors were unable to realign their allocated budgets with the Big Four Agenda allocating funds on other sectors. This could mean that there were no enough engagements between the national government and the county governments. For the Big Four Agenda to be a success, it’s clear that the county governments have a pivotal role to play in supporting and facilitating the trickling down of the required resources.
So how can the Big Four be achieved? There is a need for the governors to agree for the smooth implementation of these two agendas. On the other hand, the national government has a critical role to play in engaging counties and private sectors to partner with towards making the Big Four a success.
The partnership might call for the legislation to be in place for the implementation of critical actions that will lead to the realization of the significant four roles hence smooth engagements and teamwork between the national and county governments. With a good approach from the two key players then the Big Four will be delivered as the counties will be able to tailor developments in line with the Big Four.
