Olekina blasts county govts for poor service delivery despite revenue collection
By Faith Lagat, July 31, 2025In a fiery Senate session held on July 31, 2025, Narok Senator Ledama Olekina launched a scathing attack on county governments, accusing them of neglecting basic service delivery despite collecting significant own-source revenue.
The debate followed the tabling of reports by Senators Wafula Wakoli and Godfrey Osotsi from the Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations, which examined the state of markets in Vihiga and Bungoma counties.
“I wish to support this report by Senator Wakoli and Senator Osotsi. It is both embarrassing and ridiculous that the very people we fight so hard for—county governments—to be able to access funds, end up collecting own-source revenue, but fail to convert that money into services. This leads to boycotts by traders over basic services such as sanitation and water,” Olekina stated.
His remarks echoed the frustrations of many Kenyans who continue to grapple with poor infrastructure in markets and public spaces. Olekina questioned the rationale behind continued support for increased county allocations through the Division of Revenue Bill if devolved units fail to account for or utilise existing resources efficiently.
“It begs the question: Why are we fighting for county governments to get more money if they cannot deliver on these fundamental responsibilities? Every time we have business on the Order Paper relating to the Division of Revenue, all of us are present and diligent, making sure we secure more resources for our counties,” he added.
Call for business-minded leadership
The senator further criticised the leadership styles of some governors, urging them to adopt a more business-orientated approach in managing county affairs.
“I do not know when we will teach governors to run counties as if they were businesses. They need a basic lesson in Business 101. In business, you aim for profit, but you must also ensure the business environment is conducive and supportive for growth,” Olekina said.
His sentiments are backed by findings from a 2023 World Bank study, which showed that 60% of Kenyan counties underperform in service delivery despite receiving increased funding.
Senator Wafula Wakoli, who led the market assessment, detailed the dire conditions witnessed. “We visited Chebukube Market in Bungoma, where the facility lacked clean and reliable water. Traders reported that the cost of water was very high compared to the amount they were consuming. At Bukembe Market, the drainage was poor, facilities were in a deplorable state, and the storage areas were not conducive for business operations.”
Wakoli added that despite pledges by the county government, the situation remains unchanged, deepening public dissatisfaction and calling into question the impact of devolution on daily life.