President Ruto’s elimination of devolution ministry sparks debate; what were its functions?

In his cabinet, Ruto introduced the position of Prime Cabinet Secretary, where he appointed ANC Party leader Musalia Mudavadi. 

However, Ruto pruned one ministry – the ministry of devolution – which was contained in the cabinet of his predecessor, President Uhuru Kenyatta. 

The elimination of the devolution ministry has sparked public debate on whether Kenya will adequately achieve the goals of devolution, as envisioned in the 2010 constitution. 

Former Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa decried the decision wondering why Ruto did not see it as a priority. 

“To whom l will be handing over as CS Defence. But am at a loss as to what happens to Devolution,is it an oversight or it is not a priority to this Administration?” Wmalwa posed after the new cabinet was unveiled. 

In a rejoinder, Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o also faulted the president for eliminating the devolution ministry. 

“Having seen appointments to the Cabinet, equity and regional balance, two components of national unity, are prominent by their absence. What is even more striking is that devolution is not given the prominence it deserves as a state department on its own as is currently the case,” Nyongo said. 

Urban Development Planner Prof. Alfred Omenya, welcomed Ruto’s move to abolish the devolution ministry. 

“We devolve functions, we create counties so why should we create a Ministry for counties?" he posed. 

"As far as I was concerned all the issues that the constitution said should have been devolved should have been devolved in total."

The Ministry of Devolution and Planning was first introduced during Uhuru’s first term in 2013, with Anne Waiguru being its first Cabinet Secretary. 

In November 2015, Waiguru resigned citing health reasons. Her resignation came after numerous calls for her to leave the ministry after she was linked to graft cases in NYS. 

Her resignation gave room for appointment of Eugene Wamalwa as the Ministry of Devolution and Planning CS. 

In 2018, Uhuru made amendments in the structure of the Ministry, naming it the Ministry of Devolution and Arid and Semi-Arid Lands. 

Further, in 2021, Uhuru reconstituted the Ministry, naming it Ministry of Devolution and appointing Charles Keter as its Cabinet Secretary. 

The institutions placed under the ministry included; Council of Governors, Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee and the National Drought Management Authority. 

One major function of the devolution ministry was to supporting County Governments through policy formulation, capacity support and intergovernmental relations.

Other functions included; 

1. Capacity building and technical assistance to counties.

2. Facilitation of intergovernmental relations between the national and county governments and among counties. 

3. Facilitation of public participation in policy and decision-making processes.

4. Tracking of programme implementation in counties.

5. Coordination of stakeholders’ engagement.

6. Overseeing management of public assets and liabilities at the county level.

7. Facilitation of transfer of functions between the national and county governments.

8. Food Relief Management.