CHIEF Justice Willy Mutunga has described devolution as an “incubator” for the country's top leadership.
In his speech which closed down the governors meeting in Kwale, Mutunga said through its incubating role, devolution will “likely demolish the usual political barriers erected by ethnicity.”
He said it is no accident that their (governors) terms are limited to ten years like the President and his deputy. He said depending on their performance governors will either be promoted or retired.
“Looking at this room, it is remarkable that the great majority – if not all – the leaders here are youthful and ambitious who should not be prematurely sent into retirement,” he challenged them.
He said if the people’s verdict is that devolution has failed, Governors will have to accept a share of that failure. He described the governors as the “lighthouses of patriotic, progressive, and transformative governance.”
Mutunga said the first generation of leaders under the constitution of Kenya 2010 have a duty to eliminate threats to nationhood. He asked Governors to take the lead.
“Devolution has been designed to unite the country through equitable development, to heal the divisions of the past through equal opportunities, and not to fragment the nation into tribal and religious Bantustans,” he said.
He told governors to give meaning to the difference between imperial presidency “that created distance decay between the people and those in power.” He said governors must mot become the new “lords of poverty.”
Mutunga warned the governors that even though devolution is popular political victory for Kenyans it is not a trophy to be displayed and admired: “It is a tool for achieving national unity, good governance and people’s participation. It will only help Kenya if it is made to work.”
He said owing to its popularity and opportunities, it attracts “creative opponents.” He claimed opponents of devolution have laid traps to paint it as profligate, corrupt, inept and inefficient.
“County governments that do not rise above these sins of governance in Africa, will provide cannon fodder for those who opportunistically or ideologically oppose devolution,” he cautioned.