Work with experts to create ministries

A new Ministry of Devolved Governments Coordination would be transitional for about five years to permit the devolved structures to find their ground and develop capacity.

This ministry has a coordinating role only and becomes the link with the central government.

In a way, it would involve re-branding the Ministry of Local Government with new roles in line with the new constitution.

Some ministries like Gender, Northern Kenya, Regional Development will become redundant if the provisions of the new constitution are sufficiently followed and implemented and if duplication and inter-ministerial conflicts are to be avoided.

The children’s department being mainly legal in issues can be anchored under Ministry of Constitutional and Legal Affairs or Home Affairs.

Perhaps the current government can appoint a team of experts to recommend the best ministerial set-up to be adopted in post-2012 government for maximum impact .

This will certainly stem the temptation of trying to create ministries to fit individuals, instead of the other way round.

Wachira works for Petroleum Focus Consultants. E-mail: wachira@ petroleumfocus.com