DEVOLUTION: THE ONLY LEGAL WAY THAT HAS BEEN USED TO ENHANCE CORRUPTION AND POVERTY IN KENYA

 When the new constitution was promulgated, Kenyans went high with celebrations and expectations, both real and delusional, over the new face Kenya shall adopt after the enactment. Thanks to the constitution, now we have county presidents, senators and all the numerous officers given constitutional power in Kenya but that is a story for another day. 

The spirit of devolution was not only to bring services closer to the people but also improve their socio-economic status in a conducive and adaptable political environment unique to each county.

What the constitution failed to inform the celebrating Kenyans is that devolution also had the motive of increasing the number of mouths (and of course potbellies) which the common Kenyans had to feed. That is, devolution was to make the Kenyans more poorer than they already are.Having governors, senators, Members of Parliament, county representatives and ministers at the county level, all drawing huge salaries besides other perks, is an unnecessary drain on public finances, leaving little or nothing for service provision and betterment

The county Governments are up in arms complaining for entertainment allowances, travel allowances, inspection allowances and all the ludicrous allowances they are demanding from the local Mama Mboga. The County Representatives(most of whom were academic failures and school drop outs) are also out there demanding a salary of at least 200,000 to be paid by the mama Mboga.

If devolution is to be realised as envisaged,it would come at a heavy cost, which translates into heavier taxation at a time when the purchasing power of the ordinary citizen has been seriously eroded by a non-performing economy. 

The new mouths and potbellies to be fed in the name of county officers are also determined to raise revenue within their respective counties through introduction of numerous, often punitive taxes, a move that has been met with hostile resistance. Some counties have already formulated laws which are specifically aimed at ensuring collection of county revenues while the same counties have failed to enact even a single law which is aimed at elevating  the status of the county citizens.

The level of corruption has also been increased by the increasing number of offices (using the equation that each Kenyan is corrupt).

It is unreasonable to expect citizens to pay the numerous hefty taxes being imposed while the cost of living, medicare and education are a nightmare most people are hoping to wake up from.  The citizens are now being tasked almost for everything they own, even for the God given life. It is now as expensive to die as to buy a Bugatti.

In Kakamega County, for instance, the governor hopes to raise taxes from churches, the dead, anybody rearing chicken or breeding cattle and Mama Mboga whose daily sales average Sh200 out of which she must part with Sh100 to enrich the county coffers.

The questions therefore, that each Kenyan ask themselves are: where are the numerous job opportunities that we were promised by the constitution? How does devolution increase opportunities for small scale businesses? How does devolution empower the Kenyans economically if it now even take their right to eat chicken? Has it been noticed that counties entrench tribalism and nepotism? These plus many more questions make the older Kenyans long for the Moi era.

 Kakamega County ranks among the poorest in the country, with no industries. I have seen families bury their dead kin in offcuts because a coffin costing Sh2,000 is a luxury they can only dream of. How are they expected to raise Sh5,000 to get a burial permit? If residents must pay Sh20 for every chicken reared, Sh300 for every pig and Sh500 for every head of cattle one has, is it worth starting projects involving the same considering the project costs? 

Kiambu County cant be left behind (this time not in the cow and hen things) with their Bill which made the people planning suicide to have a second thought since they wont escape tax even in death.

The Bungoma County's entertainment vote head which was almost equal to a third of Kenya's budget cant be forgotten. And what are they paid for: to debate on which one between the senate and the National assembly is superior.

 With all these in mind, is it logicall for the central government to continue the side shows which are trying to prove the contrary to the reality behind county government?

By Alfred Ochieng

The essence of devolution was not only to bring services closer to the people but also improve their socio-economic status in a conducive and adaptable political environment unique to each county. Realisation of devolution as envisaged would come at a heavy cost, which translates into heavier taxation at a time when the purchasing power of the ordinary citizen has been seriously eroded by a non-performing economy. Governors are determined to raise revenue within their respective counties through introduction of numerous, often punitive taxes, a move that has been met with hostile resistance. It is unreasonable to expect citizens to pay the numerous hefty taxes being imposed while the cost of living, medicare and education are a nightmare most people are hoping to wake up from. In Kakamega County, for instance, the governor hopes to raise taxes from churches, the dead, anybody rearing chicken or breeding cattle and mama mboga whose daily sales average Sh200 out of which she must part with Sh100 to enrich the county coffers. How then do we hope to encourage small businesses and tackle poverty while fighting unemployment? Kakamega County ranks among the poorest in the country, with no industries. I have seen families bury their dead kin in offcuts because a coffin costing Sh2,000 is a luxury they can only dream of. How are they expected to raise Sh5,000 to get a burial permit? If residents must pay Sh20 for every chicken reared, Sh300 for every pig and Sh500 for every head of cattle one has, is it worth starting projects involving the same considering the project costs? The organisational structure of a devolved system will be its undoing since many of the institutions created are superfluous. Having governors, senators, Members of Parliament, county representatives and ministers at the county level, all drawing huge salaries besides other perks, is an unnecessary drain on public finances, leaving little or nothing for service provision and betterment. A year down the line, counties are yet to be felt except for the war of words between senators, governors and the central government over who should do what and who is superior to the other.
Read more at: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000102710&story_title=Kenya-devolution-has-failed-to-bring-services-closer-to-people

The essence of devolution was not only to bring services closer to the people but also improve their socio-economic status in a conducive and adaptable political environment unique to each county. Realisation of devolution as envisaged would come at a heavy cost, which translates into heavier taxation at a time when the purchasing power of the ordinary citizen has been seriously eroded by a non-performing economy. Governors are determined to raise revenue within their respective counties through introduction of numerous, often punitive taxes, a move that has been met with hostile resistance. It is unreasonable to expect citizens to pay the numerous hefty taxes being imposed while the cost of living, medicare and education are a nightmare most people are hoping to wake up from. In Kakamega County, for instance, the governor hopes to raise taxes from churches, the dead, anybody rearing chicken or breeding cattle and mama mboga whose daily sales average Sh200 out of which she must part with Sh100 to enrich the county coffers. How then do we hope to encourage small businesses and tackle poverty while fighting unemployment? Kakamega County ranks among the poorest in the country, with no industries. I have seen families bury their dead kin in offcuts because a coffin costing Sh2,000 is a luxury they can only dream of. How are they expected to raise Sh5,000 to get a burial permit? If residents must pay Sh20 for every chicken reared, Sh300 for every pig and Sh500 for every head of cattle one has, is it worth starting projects involving the same considering the project costs? The organisational structure of a devolved system will be its undoing since many of the institutions created are superfluous. Having governors, senators, Members of Parliament, county representatives and ministers at the county level, all drawing huge salaries besides other perks, is an unnecessary drain on public finances, leaving little or nothing for service provision and betterment. A year down the line, counties are yet to be felt except for the war of words between senators, governors and the central government over who should do what and who is superior to the other.
Read more at: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000102710&story_title=Kenya-devolution-has-failed-to-bring-services-closer-to-people

The essence of devolution was not only to bring services closer to the people but also improve their socio-economic status in a conducive and adaptable political environment unique to each county. Realisation of devolution as envisaged would come at a heavy cost, which translates into heavier taxation at a time when the purchasing power of the ordinary citizen has been seriously eroded by a non-performing economy. Governors are determined to raise revenue within their respective counties through introduction of numerous, often punitive taxes, a move that has been met with hostile resistance. It is unreasonable to expect citizens to pay the numerous hefty taxes being imposed while the cost of living, medicare and education are a nightmare most people are hoping to wake up from. In Kakamega County, for instance, the governor hopes to raise taxes from churches, the dead, anybody rearing chicken or breeding cattle and mama mboga whose daily sales average Sh200 out of which she must part with Sh100 to enrich the county coffers. How then do we hope to encourage small businesses and tackle poverty while fighting unemployment? Kakamega County ranks among the poorest in the country, with no industries. I have seen families bury their dead kin in offcuts because a coffin costing Sh2,000 is a luxury they can only dream of. How are they expected to raise Sh5,000 to get a burial permit? If residents must pay Sh20 for every chicken reared, Sh300 for every pig and Sh500 for every head of cattle one has, is it worth starting projects involving the same considering the project costs? The organisational structure of a devolved system will be its undoing since many of the institutions created are superfluous. Having governors, senators, Members of Parliament, county representatives and ministers at the county level, all drawing huge salaries besides other perks, is an unnecessary drain on public finances, leaving little or nothing for service provision and betterment. A year down the line, counties are yet to be felt except for the war of words between senators, governors and the central government over who should do what and who is superior to the other.
Read more at: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000102710&story_title=Kenya-devolution-has-failed-to-bring-services-closer-to-people

The essence of devolution was not only to bring services closer to the people but also improve their socio-economic status in a conducive and adaptable political environment unique to each county. Realisation of devolution as envisaged would come at a heavy cost, which translates into heavier taxation at a time when the purchasing power of the ordinary citizen has been seriously eroded by a non-performing economy. Governors are determined to raise revenue within their respective counties through introduction of numerous, often punitive taxes, a move that has been met with hostile resistance. It is unreasonable to expect citizens to pay the numerous hefty taxes being imposed while the cost of living, medicare and education are a nightmare most people are hoping to wake up from. In Kakamega County, for instance, the governor hopes to raise taxes from churches, the dead, anybody rearing chicken or breeding cattle and mama mboga whose daily sales average Sh200 out of which she must part with Sh100 to enrich the county coffers. How then do we hope to encourage small businesses and tackle poverty while fighting unemployment? Kakamega County ranks among the poorest in the country, with no industries. I have seen families bury their dead kin in offcuts because a coffin costing Sh2,000 is a luxury they can only dream of. How are they expected to raise Sh5,000 to get a burial permit? If residents must pay Sh20 for every chicken reared, Sh300 for every pig and Sh500 for every head of cattle one has, is it worth starting projects involving the same considering the project costs? The organisational structure of a devolved system will be its undoing since many of the institutions created are superfluous. Having governors, senators, Members of Parliament, county representatives and ministers at the county level, all drawing huge salaries besides other perks, is an unnecessary drain on public finances, leaving little or nothing for service provision and betterment. A year down the line, counties are yet to be felt except for the war of words between senators, governors and the central government over who should do what and who is superior to the other.

All this bureaucracy, infighting and haphazard manner in which counties are run beg the question; are they viable as constituted today, and how effective are they? Has it been noticed that counties entrench tribalism and nepotism? Is the wage bill, which includes millions spent on gallivanting in the guise of seeking investors, and the confusion, worth the bother? Government operations from a centralised command with clear-cut duties as it was before the adaptation of the Constitution, apart from laxity, appeared more orderly and purposeful. Cutting down on expenditure should be any prudent government’s priority. This can be achieved through scrapping some of the institutions.