It’s time to review devolution strengths and weaknesses
A recent report released by Controller of Budget Agnes Odhiambo revealed that the counties’ wage bill has shot up to over 70 per cent of total expenditure. FILE PHOTO | NMG
The next five years are likely to be as important for devolution’s future as any in our recent history as a country.
To drive the point home, The transition period afforded to devolution has come to an end; the structures that were required for a successful take off and implementation are now in place, it begs the question, How do we as policy makers ensure its sustainability going forward?
Devolution has been on the receiving end of negative flak from political and social commentators and academics on its sustainability, some have called for the reduction of counties from 47 to 10.
The overriding issue at the centre of this debate lies with the element of sustainability, both in terms of cost and resources.
If we focus our attention on economic development, we pretty much focus on policies and projects initiated by counties that are meant to spur economic development and job creation.
There is, however, a propensity for county administrations to initiate economic projects premised to be used as leverage and bargaining tools during elections.
Don’t get me wrong, counties are expected to be the engines of economic development at the grassroots and for this expectation to be realized, county government investment is required in sectors such as infrastructure development, job creation etc.
What I’m trying to reconcile is how the policy makers ensure that counties initiate projects that are sustainable beyond the lifespan of one administration.
In many cases unfortunately, counties do not measure their resource footprint before embarking on these projects.
It’s worth pointing out that the one of the most poignant discussions around sustainability of county governments remains the ballooning wage bill. A recent report released by Controller of Budget Agnes Odhiambo revealed that the counties’ wage bill has shot up to over 70 per cent of total expenditure.
Emoluments to county workers have hit Sh66.4 billion from Sh61.8 billion last year. The wage bill remains one of the key elements affecting sustainability of county governments.
There has been no incentive for county administration to embark on taming the wage bill; in fact, new administrations are on a hiring spree negating any chance of containing the issue.
For a start, counties should freeze employments and commence on voluntary early retirement programmes for older staff.
Secondly, administration should challenge the dogmatic belief that reduction of workforce will automatically equate to political suicide.
The issues negatively affecting sustainability of devolution have also been contributed by policy error. It was a mistake to allow counties to handle roles in which they clearly lacked capacity, it was a mistake to weaken the senate in matters oversight and it was a mistake not to regulate devolution more stringently.
Sustainability is not an impossible dream, it will require a culture and mindset transformation, from the County Assembly, to the executive to the lowest cadre of employees, it’s about time we have a rational debate on the element of sustainability of devolution.
Oliver Mwenda is policy and communications specialist.
PAYE Tax Calculator
Note: The results are not exact but very close to the actual.
