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Without the Senate, devolution would be a shell – Kingi
13th August, 2025 02:28 PM
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has sounded the alarm over rampant corruption and weak accountability systems in some counties, warning that these challenges are slowly eroding the gains of devolution and threatening public trust in county governments.
Speaking on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, during the devolution conference in Homa Bay County, Kingi expressed deep concern over the failure of some governors to honour invitations to appear before Senate committees to account for public funds under their watch.
“Corruption and weak accountability systems in some counties continue to threaten and erode public trust in devolution,” Kingi said.
“Regrettably, the failure by some governors to honour invitations by the Senate to come and account for the resources placed in their hands not only erodes the good working relationship within the devolution family, but also undermines promotion of accountability.”
He cited instances where Senate committees had encountered open hostility during county visits, calling such behaviour very regrettable and detrimental to the spirit of cooperative governance.
“Let us not allow short-term political interests to dilute the long-term vision of development. The greatness of a nation lies not in the glitter of its capital city and its urban centres, but in the dignity of its villages.”
Kingi lauded the Senate’s role in strengthening the devolution framework over the last decade, pointing to legislative milestones and budget allocations that have empowered county governments to function more efficiently.
“There is no doubt that without the Senate, devolution would be a shell. With the Senate, devolution has become a shield for the aspirations of many Kenyans,” he said.
Allocation to counties
The Senate, he noted, has cumulatively allocated close to Ksh4 trillion to counties through the Division of Revenue and County Allocation of Revenue Acts.
“In line with its mandate, the Senate has recorded significant milestones. We have allocated nearly 4 trillion shillings to counties, anchored oversight through standing committees, and passed key legislation like the County Public Finance Amendment Act, which guarantees financial autonomy to county assemblies,” Kingi stated.
He also hailed the recent passage of the Fourth Revenue Sharing Formula for the period 2025-2030, praising senators for their unity and teamwork.
“A good example is the collective effort and team spirit that characterised the debate and passing of the Fourth Revenue Sharing Formula. This was a profound departure from the past when such exercises were riddled with acrimony and political differences,” he remarked.
Despite these strides, Kingi warned that several persistent issues continue to hinder the realisation of the devolution dream. Among them are duplication of roles between national and county governments, weak own-source revenue mobilisation, infighting within county assemblies, and delayed disbursements of county funds.
“Our case in point is the County of Meru, where at some point we had two county assemblies, two clerks and two speakers,” he noted.
He also criticised the politicisation of development priorities at the county level, saying such practices often ignore the real needs of local communities.
“To secure the next decade of devolution, we must act decisively and collectively today,” Kingi urged.
“Devolution was never meant to be a destination; it is a continuous journey, one that requires vigilance, courage, and commitment.”
