Kesses MP: Poor coordination between national and county govts hurting growth
By Sharon Atieno, June 9, 2026Kesses MP Rutto says Kenya is facing major challenges in fiscal policy, privatisation and coordination between national and county governments, warning that lack of alignment in priorities is slowing down development across the country.
Speaking during an interview with a local station on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, He noted that devolution, which was meant to strengthen service delivery and development at the grassroots, has not fully delivered its promise, contributing to stagnation in key sectors.
“When you look at the fiscal policy of Kenya, that is where we have a problem,” Rutto said, noting that even implementation of government plans requires more than just policy statements. “You require investment. You cannot implement with a word of mouth.”
“We are stagnating because we are not able to move. Devolution has a role in this. We have been promised, but nothing has happened,” he said.
Privatisation raising tough questions
Rutto said privatisation remains a major concern because it appears to be driven by selective decisions rather than a clear national strategy.
“We have a problem in privatisation because it’s about everyone’s legacy,” he said, suggesting that shared national priorities do not always guide decisions on what to privatise.
He warned that Kenya risks losing focus if economic reforms are shaped by competing interests instead of common goals.
National and county priorities not aligned
According to the Kesses MP, Kenya’s biggest challenge is the lack of coordination between national and county governments in setting development priorities.
He argued that both levels of government should work towards a common agenda that supports sustainable growth and long-term development outcomes.
“A common priority for both national and local governments should be aligned together so that in the country we are in a sustainable approach with goals that are aligned,” he said.
Resource allocation gaps slowing development
Rutto further pointed to resource allocation as a persistent problem, especially in marginalised and ASAL regions.
He said proper identification of regional needs and coordinated planning could help neighbouring areas work together on shared challenges and achieve better outcomes.
“We seem to be choosing other things over others despite having all problems in resource allocation,” he said, adding that coordinated planning could help regions achieve “a common result that can favour all.”