Devolution at 10 in Kenya

This study was a review of the state of devolved governance in Kenya over the last 10 years, to establish the trends, dynamics and possible insights into the future. Forty-seven (47) new counties were established by the new constitution through which governance has been implemented in the country for a period of 10 years now. The objective of the study was to develop a data-driven comprehensive book that mirrors the actual state of devolution in Kenya, over the last 10 years in. KAS sought to have this book as solid reference document aimed at strengthening understanding of Kenya’s devolved system of governance, and what the future portends for devolution in Kenya. This is an in-depth analysis of the legislative and policy frameworks that enable implementation of devolution, as well as the capacities and status of institutions and the various actors within Kenya’s devolution cosmos.

The researchers scoured through lots of secondary literature including journals, books, court decisions, Senate Public Accounts Committee reports, County Assembly Public Accounts and Investment Committee reports, Controller of Budget reports, Commission on revenue Allocation reports, Inter-governmental Relations Technical Committee reports, Auditor General reports, Ministry of Devolution and ASALs reports, Council of Governors and County Assemblies Forum, County Integrated Development Plans, County and national government MDAs reports, reports by think tanks, civil society, SDG Forum, development partners, private sector, academia, research works and media publications.

They purposively selected key informants for their depth and wealth of knowledge, experience and office positions. Moreover, the researchers employed cluster and purposive sampling techniques in the study; used questionnaire instruments in the collection of data, and conducted qualitative data analysis with MS Excel, MS Word and Dedoose for coding, sorting and reviewing data as content analysis. They also utilized rapid evidence mapping, and systematic review techniques to synthesize key information. The documentation of status of devolution, lessons learned and good practices were backed up by case studies, stories and testimonies of change, a synthesis of which is also affirmed by the analysed field data. These helped to capture and share practices and experiences in order to build collective knowledge and inform learning from the counties’ perspectives. These case studies were picked in a manner that was responsive to the ToR.