KISUMU, Kenya — The battle over devolution in Kenya has intensified as Kisumu Governor Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o issued a strongly worded statement slamming President William Ruto’s government for undermining the very essence of county autonomy, especially in the management of roads funds.
In his statement dated April 22, 2025, Nyong’o called out the national government for what he described as a deliberate attempt to frustrate county governments by holding onto control of funds meant for road construction and maintenance, a function he says should be fully devolved.
“This is in reference to the ongoing spat between the County Governments and the National Government over the management of roads funds,” Governor Nyong’o noted in his statement.
The Kisumu County Governor pointed an accusatory finger at the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KERA), questioning the relevance of these bodies in a country that claims to uphold devolution under the 2010 Constitution.
“KURA and KERA need not exist if the national government is prepared to fully implement Devolution in Kenya,” Nyong’o stated.
The governor didn’t stop there. He went on to highlight the inefficiencies within the national government, specifically mentioning the Kenyatta National Hospital, as evidence that counties are more capable of managing resources and delivering essential services.
“The counties manage health effectively and efficiently. The national government cannot even manage Kenyatta National Hospital: one of the very few health entities in its hands,” he observed.
Nyong’o further accused the Ruto government of trying to roll back the gains made since the promulgation of the Kenya 2010 Constitution, suggesting that the administration was taking Kenya back to the pre-devolution era associated with the Nyayo regime.
“The truth is that the Ruto regime has decided to go back to pre-devolution times of the Nyayo era,” he declared.
The governor warned that undermining devolution would not only weaken county governments but would also threaten the broader national agenda of building a democratic and developmental state.
“The 2010 Constitution is a hindrance to its primitive accumulation schemes, which will affect not only devolution but the very ethos of building a national democratic and developmental state,” he added.
Nyong’o’s statement comes at a time when the Council of Governors Kenya has been raising alarm over repeated attempts by the national government to bypass counties on critical decisions involving resource allocation.
In his call to action, Nyong’o urged governors and all progressives in the country to stand firm in defense of devolution, warning that the achievements of the Second Liberation Kenya must not be reversed.
“The Council of Governors and all progressive forces in our Republic need to be aware of this fact and to resist it by all means necessary. The achievements of the Second Liberation must not be destroyed by this regime,” he emphasized.
Political observers believe the standoff between the National vs County Government Kenya could spark a constitutional and political showdown, as counties push back against what they perceive as centralized control disguised under national agencies like KURA and KERA.
Online, the debate has already gained momentum. One X user wrote, “The spirit of devolution is dying under Ruto’s watch, and if the governors don’t stand up now, counties will be reduced to mere appendages of the national government.”
With the Ruto vs Governors showdown escalating, all eyes are now on the Council of Governors Kenya as they prepare their next move. Will they mount a united front, or will the weight of political pressure silence their collective voice?
As the days unfold, Kenya’s future as a decentralized and democratic state may hang in the balance.
