Dagoretti North Member of Parliament Beatrice Elachi has warned that weak governance systems in both national and county administrations have eroded public trust, making devolution a tool for personal enrichment rather than service delivery.

Speaking during a morning talk show aired by a local television station on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, Elachi said Kenyans are increasingly losing faith in government structures because leaders prioritise personal gain over the common good, many taking advantage of weak systems in the county governments.

“The biggest challenge we face is trust in the systems we put in place,” she said, noting that the integrity of governance depends on citizens and leaders choosing to do the right thing.

Elachi recalled her tenure as a speaker, saying she realised early that devolution was being exploited following the massive movement of employees to county governments, setting weak systems.

“I told myself we are done with devolution after I became Speaker. Every Kenyan moved from the national government to county governments, knowing the systems at the county level were weak, and it was easier to make wealth there. You wonder they went there to make wealth,” she said

She challenged Kenyans to question the wealth of those who were part of the first county governments in 2013, arguing that the lure of easy money has persisted across administrations.

“Ask that person to bring assets. Everyone who will come, even in the next government, will also want to make that wealth,” she said.

The Dagoretti North MP lamented that the national government has also suffered a credibility crisis, with many citizens distancing themselves from it altogether. “Unfortunately, many leaders are more focused on personal gain,” she said, stressing that this culture has undermined development and weakened the spirit of devolution.

Elachi’s remarks add to the growing debate on the future of devolved governance, with critics warning that without reforms to strengthen systems and curb corruption, devolution risks becoming a costly failure.