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Kabando roots for unity of regional economic blocs to enhance devt in Kenya
28th August, 2025 08:01 AM
Former Mukurwe-ini Member of Parliament (MP) Kabando wa Kabando has called for stronger collaboration and unity among Kenya’s regional economic blocs.
In a statement on Thursday, August 28, 2025, Kabando stated that the blocs hold the key to unlocking inclusive development across the country.
“Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB), North Rift Economic Bloc (NOREB), Central Kenya Economic Bloc (CEREB), Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani (JKP), South Eastern Kenya Economic Bloc (SEKEB), and Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC) are to cohese & spur regional economic progress,” read the statement.
Three-tier governance
His remarks come a day after the Orange Democratic Movement Party Leader, Raila Odinga, rallied for a three-tier governance structure in Kenya.
Speaking at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, during Katiba Day celebrations, Raila said Kenya is ripe for a broader conversation on how devolution can be made more effective.
According to the opposition chief, the current system of 47 counties is too fragmented to deliver meaningful development.
“The time has come for the country to re-examine the whole issue of devolution.Kenya, in my view, is too tiny for 47 devolved units; we are just five short of the US, which is a continent,” he said.
“Nigeria, with 200 million people, has 34 plus Abuja, and South Africa has 9. I won’t advocate for the abolishment of any county, but I believe we are ripe for a three-tier system that has national, regional, and counties.”
Further, Odinga explained that a three-tier governance system would not dismantle existing counties but instead create a structured regional level that can coordinate broader development.
In his view, the 2010 Constitution laid a solid foundation for devolution, but reforms are now needed to improve resource allocation and ensure equity across all regions.
He further argued that creating regional governments would help address disparities in development, strengthen accountability, and reduce duplication of functions between national and county governments.
Raila drew comparisons with other nations, noting that Kenya’s population size does not justify the high number of devolved units.
By introducing a regional tier, he said, Kenya would align its governance system with global best practices that strike a balance between efficiency and inclusivity.
