Governor Nyong'o urges President Ruto to let devolution function effectively

Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o has slammed the national government, accusing it of undermining devolution by clinging to functions that should be managed by counties, particularly in the roads sector.

Governor Nyong’o, in a statement on Tuesday, said the continued existence of the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KERRA) was unnecessary and a betrayal of the spirit of devolution enshrined in the 2010 Constitution.

Citing the problems facing healthcare in the country, he questioned the logic of the national government holding onto the management of road funds, noting that counties, unlike the former, have proven capable of handling key devolved functions such as healthcare.

“The Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KERRA) need not exist if the national government is prepared to fully implement devolution,” Nyong’o stated.

“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.”

According to Nyong’o, the push by President William Ruto’s administration to retain control over development functions previously earmarked for devolution is reminiscent of past centralised regimes.

Governor Nyong’o warned that any rollback on devolution would have far-reaching implications not only for service delivery but also for the broader project of building a democratic and developmental state.

“The truth is that the Ruto regime has decided to go back to pre-devolution times of the Nyayo era. The 2010 Constitution is a hindrance to its primitive accumulation schemes,” he claimed.

 “This will affect not only devolution but the very ethos of building a national democratic and developmental state.”

The governor thus called upon the Council of Governors to stand firm in defending the gains of the Second Liberation.

“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 noted.

Nyong’o’s remarks fuel the ongoing debate between county and national governments over control of road funds, where the governors are demanding greater autonomy as envisioned under the Constitution.

This came after President Ruto asked the Senators and Members of Parliament to grant him permission to control the disbursement of the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF).

Speaking during a Sunday service in Narok County, President Ruto said that the legislators should bring their ongoing tiff over the fund's control and allow him to pioneer its disbursement.

He argued that there is a dire need to construct roads across the nation, and the funds at his disposal will allow for easy disbursement and oversight.

"If you leave it to me I can gather funds enough to build all roads because the money you distribute allows you to build only a small portion and then it is destroyed by rains so I urge you to allow me to plan for that money in the way it can benefit Kenyans more than how it is currently being utilised," said Ruto.

The Ministry of Roads and Transport has yet to issue a formal response to the latest accusations.