But of all the provisions of the constitution, it is Chapter 11 on Devolution that millions of Kenyans anchored their hopes for sound governance. An identical hallmark of the regimes of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki was absolute centralisation of power.
And owing to the immense powers at their disposal, Kenya's first three presidents and their cohorts turned the institution of the presidency into an instrument of lording it over the citizenry, their political foes and pilfering state resources with unprecedented abandon.
The three eminent Kenyans ensured that during their tenure in office, the regions from which they hailed benefited the most in the distribution of state resources.
And so when the whole idea of devolution was floated and ultimately entrenched in the 2010 constitution, Kenyans heaved a sigh of relief in the hope that skewed distribution of resources will now be a thing of the past.
Expectations were at a record high that devolution will give powers of self-governance to the people and enhance their participation in the exercise of the powers of state and in making decisions affecting them.
With the inception of county governments, Kenyans looked forward to transparent and accountable leadership. But if recent developments in the counties is anything to go by, devolution may turn out a flop and not the success that Kenyans envisaged.
It all started with the impasse between the National Assembly and the Senate over the amount that was to be allocated to the counties from the national treasury.
While the Senate wanted counties to be allocated Sh258 billion, the National Assembly reduced the amount to Sh210 billion which was eventually approved by President Uhuru Kenyatta when he assented to the Division of Revenue Bill to the chagrin of the Senate.
And even before a solution to this deadlock is arrived at, governors across the country, with the exception of Machakos governor Alfred Mutua, are acting in a manner that is clearly inimical to the ethos and objects of devolution as spelled out in the constitution.
In the name of county budgets, governors are turning out to be adversaries rather than friends of devolution. So outrageous are some of the proposals captured in their budgets that unless quick remedial measures are taken devolution will miserably fail.
In Kisumu, the governor with the support of his county assembly members has allocated a whole Sh72 million to the procurement of Toyota Prados for members of the county cabinet. In a futile attempt to justify this daylight robbery of public resources, governor Ranguma and his cabinet argue that the roads in Kisumu county are in a deplorable condition and that it is only with the help of such fuel-guzzlers that mobility will be made possible.
But the question is, isn't it the duty of the county government to improve the condition of these roads rather that complaining of how pathetic they are? As if this is not sufficiently disgusting, the governor, whom I suppose has a home, is allegedly living in a hotel at a monthly bill of Sh500,000. Matters are not any better in Bungoma where Governor Ken Lusaka and his county assembly sees no fault in setting aside millions of shillings on things that will not add any value to the lives of the people of Bungoma.
What has the entertainment of the governor and his cabinet have to do with the welfare of the people of Bungoma, most of whom are living in abject poverty? Since when did pornography become an issue over which Bungoma should expend millions of shillings? Why has Governor Lusaka and his county government not allocated any money for the revival of the defunct Webuye Pan Paper factory which has the potential of employing a huge number of unemployed youth from his county? These are just but few examples of the mess that is obtaining around the country.
The tragedy is that if the governors and members of the county assemblies will have their way, which is most likely to be the case, the ultimate losers will be Kenyans. But it bears noting that governors and members of their assemblies are not alone in this sickening display of unmitigated greed.
They are in the good company of MPs. In fact, governors are just taking a cue from MPs who recently arm-twisted the Salaries and Remuneration Commission into awarding them astronomical salaries.
Had MPs not prevailed in their efforts to increase their salaries and allowances, we would probably not be witnessing what is presently unfolding in the counties. Whichever way one may elect to look at it, Kenyans are caught up in a quandary of frightening proportions. Both the national and county governments are least bothered by the daily struggles that Kenyans go through in their quest to eke out a living.
The national and county leadership has subordinated public interest to personal interest. Kenyans should, however, not cave in to despondency. With few governors like Machakos' Alfred Mutua who are offering servant leadership, there is so much to be hopeful for. Actually the problem is not devolution but those charged with the responsibility of shepherding it to realisation.
With the right leadership, devolution remains the key to unlocking the vast economic, social and political potential in our country.
This article was published in the Star Newspaper on July 6,2013
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