KISUMU, Kenya —
A fiery statement from Kisumu Governor Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o has reignited the national debate on devolution, accusing the central government of backtracking on constitutional progress and tightening its grip on county-managed road funds.
Speaking from his office on 22 April, the seasoned county chief criticised the ongoing dispute between governors and the national government over the management of road infrastructure budgets, calling it “a dangerous reversal” of Kenya’s democratic gains.
“The national government cannot even manage Kenyatta National Hospital effectively,” Governor Nyong’o said. “Why should they cling to road funds that are clearly better managed at the county level?”
At the heart of the clash is the role of the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KERA)—two bodies under the central government that continue to oversee most road works across the country, even in areas where counties are constitutionally mandated to lead.
Governor Nyong’o argued that the presence of these authorities undermines the spirit of devolution enshrined in the 2010 Constitution, which was meant to shift power and resources closer to the people. “If the national government was truly committed to devolution, these agencies would not exist,” he said.
Critics of the current administration, led by President William Ruto, say the centralisation of road funds is part of a wider trend to roll back key reforms. “This regime wants to take us back to the Nyayo era,” Nyong’o stated, referring to the pre-2010 system marked by heavy central control. “The 2010 Constitution stands in their way, and they see it as an obstacle to their schemes.”
However, the national government maintains that central oversight ensures consistency, quality, and proper auditing across counties, especially in large-scale infrastructure projects. A senior official at the Ministry of Roads, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said counties lack the capacity to handle complex road networks without national coordination.
Still, the statement from Governor Nyong’o has struck a chord with other county leaders and rights activists who fear the erosion of decentralised governance. “We must defend the gains of the Second Liberation,” Nyong’o urged, invoking Kenya’s pro-democracy struggles of the 1990s. “Progressive forces in our republic must resist this regression.”
The Council of Governors is now expected to meet in the coming weeks to deliberate on a unified response. Political analysts suggest the showdown over roads funds may trigger a larger push for constitutional clarity—and possibly, a legal challenge.
For many Kenyans, roads are more than tarmac and signs. They are lifelines to health clinics, markets, and schools. And in a country where the promise of devolution remains deeply personal, the fight over who controls them could shape the next chapter of Kenya’s democratic journey.
