Advantages of devolution in kenya pdf

This book reports on recent decentralization and devolution innovations in. People whom the nation spoke to painted a rosy picture, and were optimistic about the benefits of county governments. It is therefore, important that every kenyan understands the provisions of the. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of devolution in. Opportunities and challenges for the water sector supporting poorinclusive wss sector reform in the current scenario, devolution is likely to proceed for. Most counties especially in the arid and semiarid lands. The history of devolution in kenya as a system of governance. This study is important in pointing out the various. Devolution and education law and policy in kenya prof ben sihanya, jsd stanford1 1. This paper attempts to look at the aims of devolution in kenya,the its impact to the country and measure if devolution is the break for kenya from being labelled as a third world country. But although there has been a gradual progress on devolution, not much has been done to further enshrine the principles into a coherent policy to guide the devolution process throughout the whole of government.

In this case, previously concentrated powers to tax and. While much of the literature on decentralisation in health care. As this is a work in progress, there may be many parts needing improvementchanges. Health staff employed and directly managed by county government including payment of salaries. Pdf benefits and challenges of devolution in kenya elvis. The kenya national bureau of statistics knbs puts the current poverty level in makueni at 60 per cent, four per cent lower than. Speaking at the event, the acting undp resident representative who is also the chair of the devolution working group, michel bulima, said development partners are willing to partner with counties and national governments to address devolution challenges and ensure the hopes and aspirations of kenyans are realized. This is also kenyas second attempt at decentralization after its initial attempt after independence in 1963 was amended thus making kenya a unitary state with a strong central government constitution of kenya amended, 1964. It is with this in mind that transparency international kenya published this handbook, which is a simple analysis of devolution as per the constitution of kenya 2010 and the laws that have been enacted to operationalise devolution. Aligning legislation with the new constitution brings to fore some important policy.

The journey from centralisation to decentralisation in kenya. Devolution of health services in kenya, what you need to know of devolved healthcarephoto. Devolution is the transfer or delegation of power to a lower level especially by national government to a local or regional or county administration. This means that any one level of government is not under an. In kenya, several efforts have been made to reduce unnecessary layers of government to make service provision to the populace more effective.

This article explores the history of devolution in kenya. It is a regional and crossborder issue, with a strong political dimension that goes beyond the existing humanitarian. The program addresses key capacity gaps to make devolution respond to citizens needs through strengthened institutions, improved service delivery and citizen engagement. The presidency ministry of devolution and planning policy on devolved system of government april, 2016 foreword devolution is one of the most transformative changes to kenyas governance system brought about by the constitution of kenya, 2010. From the need for equal distribution of resources and powers to public participation, here are some of the advantages of decentralization in kenya. Published by the national council for law reporting. Devolution may promote regressive effect at subnational level because of high administrative and competition costs. Devolution in kenya is the pillar of the constitution and seeks to bring government closer to the people, with county governments at the center of dispersing political power and economic resources to kenyans at the grassroots. Devolution poses substantial opportunities and risks in any country undertaking reforms, but the stakes are arguably even higher in kenya than in most other african countries.

Supporting poorinclusive wss sector reform devolution in kenya. Smith1,2 january 2005 abstract this paper explores the impact of health care decentralisation on a characteristic of human development. I want to know the specific areas i should base my survey to came. The process of devolution is seen as being made up of three separate factors. Decentralization has also appeared in the form of devolution of major functional responsibilities such primary education, health, water, and sanitation, and rural feeder roads from the central to local governments. Devolution and health in kenya consultative meeting report. In england, devolution is the transfer of power and funding from national to local government. No doubt, the cardinal principal of devolution is to distribute. It is important because it ensures that decisions are made closer to the local people, communities. Devolution in kenya promotes participatory democracy.

Pdf the adoption of devolved system of government in kenya was a desire of citizens who wanted access to public services closer to them. Decentralisation of health care and its impact on health. Devolution in kenya devolved county government in kenya. Kenya chapter 11, section 174 a, devolving the government to the regional and local level. Speaking at the event, the acting undp resident representative who is also the chair of the devolution working group, michel bulima, said development partners are willing to partner with counties and national governments to address devolution challenges and ensure the hopes and aspirations of. The new constitution marked the end of a centralised government and in its place put a twotiered system consisting of a lean government and devolved county governments.

Devolution is a principle of good governance devolution in kenya, by its character, object and principles, envisioned to provide opportunity for greater citizen participation in local development. The volume is organized into three parts and contains a total of 12 chapters including the introduction. Actionaid published by actionaid denmark october 2014 about the research for this paper the research on which this briefing is based was commissioned by actionaid international zimbabwe. This article analyses the campaign that was led by the newly elected governors in order to understand the ongoing disputes over the introduction of decentralisation in kenya, and what they tell us about the potential for devolution to check the power of central government and to. Decentralisation of health care and its impact on health outcomes. With the conclusion of kenyas sixth annual devolution conference, supporting county governments in the devolution process is critical to ensuring that devolution is. Instituted in 20, devolution in kenya seeks to bring government closer to the people by devolving political and economic resources to kenyas fortyseven county governments. The chapters in part 1 structures and institutions provide a comprehensive analysis of institutional and organizational environment in which decentralization. Devolution is the statutory granting of powers from the government of a sovereign state to government to government at a sub national level. Supporting poorinclusive wss sector reform devolution in. The support for devolution by citizens has improved from 66% in. Introduction devolution reforms in indonesia and kenya have brought extensive changes to governance structures and mechanisms for financing and delivering healthcare. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of devolution in kenya and its role in ensuring sustainable development in the rural areas. The major impact has been the opening up of once marginalized areas of our country.

Society for international development sid regional of. Devolving healthcare system in kenya parents magazine africa. Introducing devolution in education policy and law this paper examines the juridical or legal and policy framework on devolution and education. The dynamics of devolution in zimbabwe a briefing paper on local democracy. What are the advantages and disadvantages of devolution. First, the devolution in kenya is substantial and consequential, which is. It is our intention to empower kenyan citizens by providing. Community health approaches can contribute towards attaining many of devolutions objectives, including community participation, responsiveness, accountability and improved equity.

This means that any one level of government is not under any obligation to refer to or seek authority from the centre in order to make or implement decisions. It also recalibrated the powers between executive, legislative and judicial branches. Efficient delivery of public services in africa and other developing regions has for a long time been hindered by highly centralized government bureaucracies mwabu et al. This article analyses the campaign that was led by the newly elected governors in order to understand the ongoing disputes over the introduction of decentralisation in kenya, and what they tell us about the potential for devolution to check the power of central government and to diffuse political and ethnic tensions.

In terms of decentralization as a process of change, and according to the level of transfer of responsibilities, it is useful to distinguish between deconcentration, delegation and devolution. Devolution transforming the lives of kenyans undp in kenya. The process of devolution, its advantages and disadvantages. Kenya altered the course of its history with the passing of a new constitution in 2010. This study is important in pointing out the various challenges devolution might face in kenya.

Hailed as the great compromise of kenyas new 2010 constitution, devolution was one of the hallmarks of the transition from a previously centralized political system, which was largely blamed for vast inequality, exclusion and deep divisions in kenyan society. The kenya accountable devolution program kadp works with government at both county and national levels. Im undertaking a survey on the devolution in kenya grilling and looking into the extend of delivery of public services to the normal wananchi on the grassroot level in one of the counties n kenya. Oct 20, 2016 the major impact has been the opening up of once marginalized areas of our country. The transition of authority from the national to county governments has created. Devolution in kenya, by its character, object and principles, envisioned to provide opportunity for greater citizen participation in local development and permits the government to respond quickly to local needs leaders are close.

Decentralisation of health care and its impact on health outcomes dolores jimenez1, peter c. Advantages and disadvantages of devolution education in kenya. Instituted in 20, devolution in kenya seeks to bring government closer to the people by devolving political and economic resources to kenya s fortyseven county governments. Kenyans reiterate that indeed devolution is working kenyans remain committed to devolution.

Opportunities and challenges for the water sector supporting poorinclusive wss sector reform in the current scenario, devolution is likely to proceed for some time under existing legislation. O box 14634 00800, nairobi, kenya e mail of the corresponding author. Analyzing the impact of devolution on economic development potentialities in kenya gathu joseph ndungu department of international relations, school of humanities and social sciences, united states international university africa, p. May 31, 2019 devolution of health services in kenya, what you need to know of devolved healthcarephoto. This book reports on recent decentralization and devolution innovations in kenya. The constitution created a decentralized system of government where two of the three arms of government, namely the legislature and the executive were devolved to the 47 political and administrative counties.

With the devolved systems, it is easier to achieve growth both at national and county development. However, the same word is often used to describe different things. This document was prepared by the health policy project for the ministry of medical services and the. To facilitate this some of the changes had to be made in the health sector which included. Analyzing the impact of devolution on economic development. Factors influencing effective implementation of devolution. The purpose of devolution is to promote participatory democracy and sustainable development for the benefit of all citizens. Past dynamics devolution the history of devolution in kenya begins with the independence constitution. Article 174 of the constitution provides that one of. Since then, kenyans have had a chance to elect representatives in the county government twice 20 and 2017. This will be done by looking into the constitutional principles of devolution, the positive effects,negative effects and also kenyans view of the countries change. Definition of the main terms and concepts which are used in this discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of local governmentdecentralization, and of the different forms which these termsconcepts may take, is useful in ensuring clarity as to the meanings ascribed to these termsconcepts in this paper. Furthermore, not much has happened by way of legislation to enact and implement decentralisation.

The 2010 constitution of kenya is a turning point in countrys history as it reconfigured balance of power by devolving power and responsibilities from the national government to 47 elected county governments. I analyze how the constitutional promise of devolution is being operationalised in the education sector. With the implementation of the new constitution and coming into force in 20, counties have continued to agitate for more political, fiscal and administrative powers so that they are able to mobile resources to their respective counties. This means that any one level of government is not under any obligation to refer to or seek authority from the centre in order to make or implement decisions that fall within their exclusive jurisdiction. It expresses the general will of the nation, its history aspirations and vision. However, intuition is usually not considered a valid argument in the political or scientific marketplace. Kenyas decentralization is among the most rapid and ambitious devolution processes going on in the world, with new governance challenges and opportunities as the country builds a new set of county governments from scratch.

Devolution and public participation in kenya foreword the constitution of kenya was promulgated on 27th august, 2010, following a long process of development. Most counties especially in the arid and semiarid lands have been able to open up to the outside counties. He notes that any form of devolution implies some degree of sub. The country has overcome several challenges and milestones in a bid to make the devolution. Devolution in kenya can be traced back in 2010 where kenyans welcomed a new constitution. Many of us intuitively feel that local control often produces better results than central control.

Devolution is one of the most fundamental changes to the way decisions are made for local areas and how public services are funded. Kenya has made strides from centralisation to devolution. Devolution has brought great hope to the people of kenya, let us collectively and relentlessly continue to work together to ensure that this hope is realized. One of the hallmarks of the 2010 kenya constitution is the introduction of the devolved systems that run parallel with the national governments. Kanu and kadu negotiated had a strong devolution structure. This document lists definitions of decentralization, deconcentration, devolution and other related terms used in papers presented at the interlaken workshop on decentralization, 2730 april 2004, interlaken, switzerland.