Devolution is not about county bosses or government employees; it is about the everyday mwananchi. That is the message Council of Governors Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mary Mwiti emphasised during a local radio interview on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, where she passionately defended devolution as the single most transformative pillar of the 2010 Constitution.

“The best thing the Constitution gave to Kenyans is devolution. Devolution is about transferring power, resources, and accountability to the people,” Mwiti stated.

Speaking in the wake of growing concerns over stalled county projects and accountability questions in devolved units, Mwiti reminded leaders that devolution cannot be reduced to politics or turf wars. Instead, it must be recognised as the engine of Kenya’s economic transformation.

“Devolution is not about governors, nor is it about county employees. It affects every person; the responsibility to make it work lies with every policymaker, whether in national or county government,” she stated

Devolution and Economy

She further explained that a country’s economic growth cannot be realised by concentrating resources at the centre, but in the devolved units.

“There can never be growth at the central level. Growth can only be realised in the sub-national regions, and through that, we can spur national progress,” she said

She added that those who undermine county governments are essentially sabotaging the country’s development agenda.

“Initially, all services, power, and decision-making were centralised. The fact that power and resources were devolved to the common mwananchi was truly a step forward,” she said.

To highlight the benefits of devolution, Mwiti noted that access to healthcare has greatly improved, especially for patients needing dialysis, which was once only available in major hospitals like Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi

“Today, people no longer walk to Kenyatta National Hospital for dialysis. Every county’s Level 4 and Level 3 hospitals have functional dialysis centres where diabetic patients can be treated closer to home,” she said.

Mwiti’s remarks come at a time when public confidence in devolution is being tested by mismanagement, delayed disbursements, and weakened intergovernmental coordination. But she insists that these challenges should not erode the promise devolution holds.

“If you want touchable, inclusive economic growth, you must ensure devolved units are working,” she concluded.

As Kenya marks 15 years since the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution, the debate around devolution remains as relevant as ever, and leaders like Mary Mwiti are calling for renewed commitment to the spirit of localised governance.