Kindiki Declares Devolution Irreversible, Urges Unity Between National and County Governments
NAIROBI – Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has ruled out any possibility of reversing Kenya’s devolution system, insisting that the national and county governments must operate in harmony to serve citizens effectively.
Speaking during the 27th Ordinary Session of the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) at his official residence in Karen, Kindiki said the devolution model had taken root and become a defining part of Kenya’s governance.
“No one has the capacity to roll back devolution,” Kindiki said on Sunday. “It is so deeply entrenched that no one can undo the gains already achieved.”
Kindiki, who chairs IBEC, affirmed that disbursement of funds to counties had been largely consistent. He noted that all allocations had been released except for June’s share, which he assured would be delivered on time.
“The National Treasury has kept its commitment,” he said. “We only have June’s disbursement pending, and that will be addressed promptly.”
He called on both levels of government to work together instead of seeing each other as rivals, stressing that the Constitution created a single government that operates through national and county structures.
“There’s no room for competition. This is one government with executive authority exercised at two levels,” he said. “Each level must support the other in delivering services to the people.”
Kindiki acknowledged that disagreements are part of any devolved system but called for maturity in addressing them. He cited Australia’s federal model as an example of a system that still experiences disputes over funding even after more than a century of implementation.
“Even countries that have practiced devolution for over 180 years still have disputes,” he said. “What matters is how quickly and constructively we resolve our differences.”
Kenya’s current system of devolution took effect following the enactment of the 2010 Constitution and began operating in 2013. Kindiki said that although it remains relatively young, progress has been clear.
“For a system that’s only 15 years old, we have done well,” he said. “We will continue refining it and resolve challenges faster to ensure better service delivery.”
The IBEC session focused on coordination of fiscal planning and resource allocation between the two levels of government. Those in attendance included Cabinet Secretaries, governors, and key officials from oversight bodies.
Council of Governors Chair Ahmed Abdullahi attended alongside Cabinet Secretaries John Mbadi (National Treasury and Economic Planning), Aden Duale (Health), and Mutahi Kagwe (Agriculture). Also present were Principal Secretaries including Micheal Lenasalon (Devolution), Dr. Ouma Oluga (Medical Services), Mary Muthoni (Public Health), and Kipronoh Ronoh (Agriculture).
Controller of Budget Dr. Margaret Nyakang’o, CRA Chair Mary Wanyonyi, IGRTC Chair Kithinji Kiragu, and IBEC Head Dr. Gabriel Lagat also took part in the session.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to collaborative leadership, with Kindiki stating that coordination between national and county governments is essential to Kenya’s future development.
