A poor fisherman who lived on the fish he caught had bad luck one day and caught nothing but a very small fry.
The fisherman was about to put it in his basket when the little fish said: “Please spare me, Mr. Fisherman! I am so small it is not worthwhile to carry me home. When I am bigger, I shall make you a much better meal.”
But the fisherman quickly put the fish into his basket.”How foolish I should be,” he said, “to throw you back. However small you may be, you are better than nothing at all.”
Devolution has been a key driver of Kenya's economic growth and development in recent years. It has brought services closer to the people, improved service delivery and empowered communities to participate in decision-making.
However, devolution is under threat. There are a number of factors that are putting devolution at risk, including the centralisation of power in the national government, the politicisation of devolution, the lack of accountability and corruption of county governments.
These factors are undermining the gains that have been made under devolution. They are also making it difficult for county governments to deliver on their mandate.
Governors have a critical role to play in protecting devolution. They must be champions of devolution and work to ensure that it is implemented effectively. They must also be accountable to the people and ensure that county governments are transparent and efficient.
Devolution is a key pillar of Kenya's democracy. It has the potential to transform the lives of millions of Kenyans. However, it is under threat from a number of forces. Governors must play a leading role in protecting devolution and ensuring that it delivers on its promise.
One of the most visible benefits of devolution has been the improvement in service delivery. Under devolution, counties have been given more responsibility for providing services such as health, education and infrastructure. This has led to a number of improvements, such as shorter waiting times for healthcare, better quality education and more roads being built.
Another benefit of devolution has been increased accountability. Under devolution, county governments are now more accountable to their citizens. This is because citizens have a greater say in how their counties are run, and they can hold their leaders to account if they are not satisfied with the services they are receiving.
Devolution has also led to greater participation in governance. Under devolution, citizens have more opportunities to participate in decision-making at the county level. This has led to a more inclusive and democratic process of governance.
Devolution has led to increased economic development in counties as they have been able to invest in infrastructure and other projects that have created jobs and boosted economic activity.
By giving local governments more control over resources, they can better address the needs of their communities. For example, they can invest in infrastructure, such as roads and schools, that can help to create jobs and improve access to education.
By bringing government services closer to the people, devolution can make it easier for people to access them. This can be especially important in rural areas, where people often have to travel long distances to get to government offices.
Devolution can help to promote good governance. By giving local governments more autonomy, devolution can help to reduce corruption and improve transparency. This is because local governments are more accountable to their constituents than the central government.
Devolution has also helped to increase peace and stability in counties as they have been able to address some of the underlying causes of conflict, such as poverty and inequality. By giving people a say in how they are governed, devolution can help to reduce conflict and build trust between the government and the people.
Overall, devolution has been a positive force for change in Kenya. It has led to a number of benefits, including improved service delivery, increased accountability, greater participation in governance, increased economic development, reduced poverty, improved security and increased peace and stability.
