Devolution in Kenya as a Mechanism of Inclusive Development: Challenges and Prospects

Abstract

Kenya's Constitution of 2010 brought about radical changes, creating a decentralized governance system that became operational in 2013. This paper seeks to establish to what extent this system of government has worked out in line with its intended objectives. The author equally tries to establish some of the outcomes, shortcomings and prospects of this decentralization process and suggest the way forward. The analysis clearly shows that devolution has gained ground and achieved a lot regardless of some of the shortcomings observed. The paper highlights some strategic interventions that need to be implemented to improve the outcome of devolution in Kenya. Overall, the paper establishes that though devolution has become the main political landscape in Kenya, devolved institutions lack institutional protection from the central government. Hence the need for renewed strategic interventions to protect devolution, particularly by parliament, the Senate, and the Council of Governors.