The change of leadership of the Council of Governors (CoG) is a welcome opportunity for the new team to reflect on the challenges faced by their predecessors and endeavour to chart a new, more effective path.
Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki, as the new CoG chairperson, with Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka as his vice-chairperson, have assumed those top positions in a significant moment for devolution, as the 47 county governments grapple with pressing challenges. The new chairperson has just taken over from Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, who has served two terms during which some significant achievements have been made. Of course, the new leaders can use Governor Abdullahi’s performance as a template on which to fashion their own strategies after analysing the strengths and weaknesses and having learnt some lessons to steer the counties to greater success. The frequent strikes, especially by health workers, are a clear indication of poor performance in the management of this devolved function.
The leadership will be under intense pressure to confirm that the CoG is not just an association for the protection of the governors’ personal interests, but actually has some great value for the people they lead. The association needs to demonstrate that it is of real use to the counties and not just a talking shop or welfare for the governors and their teams.
The CoG should emphasise to the governors the need to work together and lobby the national government to address their pressing challenges. They include the endemic delays in disbursing their financial allocations, which hamper their delivery of key services, such as health and education. The counties need to improve own-revenue collection and tackle the mounting burden of debilitating pending bills.
The new team should also inculcate in the members the need to enhance efficiency in the management of county affairs. All we can do now is to wish them well.
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