Key Concepts

Habari Mwanafunzi! Let's Talk About Power!

Have you ever wondered who decides to fix the road leading to your school? Or who runs the local health clinic (dispensary) where you get your jabs? For a long time in Kenya, all major decisions were made far away in Nairobi. But since 2010, things changed! Power moved from the big city and into our communities, into our 47 counties. This incredible shift is called Devolution. Today, we are going to unpack the big ideas, the 'Key Concepts', that make your county government tick. Let's dive in!

1. Devolution (Ugatuaji)

At its heart, devolution is simple: it is the transfer of power, resources, and responsibilities from the national government to the county governments. Think of it like this: The national government is like the head office of a big company, and the 47 county governments are like branch managers. The head office gives the branch managers the power and money to run their branches because they understand the local customers (the citizens!) best.

The main goal is to bring services closer to the people and give you a bigger say in how your local area is run. No more waiting for a decision from Nairobi about your local market!

Image Suggestion: A vibrant, colourful digital illustration. On the left, a tall, grey skyscraper labeled "National Government" in Nairobi. A colourful bridge of light extends from it to the right, where a smaller, friendly, and accessible building labeled "Your County Government" stands in a lush, green local landscape with people happily engaging with it.

2. The Two Arms of County Government

Just like the national government has Parliament and the President, your county government has two main parts that work together (and keep each other in check!).

• The County Assembly: This is the county's "parliament". It is made up of Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) who you elect from your ward. Their main job is to make laws (called county legislation), approve county budgets, and keep an eye on the County Executive to make sure they are doing their job properly.
• The County Executive: This is led by the Governor, who is like the county's "president". The Governor is assisted by a Deputy Governor and County Executive Committee (CEC) members, who are like county "ministers". Their job is to implement the laws and policies passed by the assembly, manage the day-to-day running of the county, and deliver services.

Here is a simple way to see their relationship:

      +-------------------------+
      |   COUNTY GOVERNMENT     |
      |   (Serikali ya Kaunti)  |
      +------------+------------+
                   |
         +---------+---------+
         |                   |
+--------V--------+   +------V----------+
| County Assembly |   | County Executive|
| (Makes Laws)    |   | (Implements Laws)|
+-----------------+   +-----------------+
| - Your MCA      |   | - The Governor  |
| - The Speaker   |   | - The Deputy Gov|
| - Debates/Budgets|   | - CEC Members   |
+-----------------+   +-----------------+

3. Division of Revenue (Mgawanyo wa Mapato)

A county government can't run on good intentions alone; it needs money! The Constitution of Kenya states that revenue collected nationally must be shared fairly between the national government and the county governments. This is one of the most important concepts.

The Constitution says at least 15% of all revenue collected by the national government must be allocated to the counties. An independent body, the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA), creates a formula to decide how this money is then divided among the 47 counties.

Let's look at a simplified calculation to understand how it works.

// STEP 1: Determine the total money to be shared with counties.
// Let's say the national government collected KES 2 Trillion.
// They decide to allocate 20% to the counties (which is more than the minimum 15%).

Total Shared Revenue = KES 2,000,000,000,000 * 20%
                     = KES 400 Billion

// STEP 2: Use the CRA formula to divide the KES 400 Billion among 47 counties.
// The formula is complex, but it considers factors like:
//  - Population (how many people)
//  - Land Area (how big the county is)
//  - Poverty Levels (how much help the people need)
//  - Equal Share (a base amount for every county)

// STEP 3: A simplified example for 'Baraka County'.
// Let's say Baraka County gets the following based on the formula:
//  - Share from Population:  KES 5.0 Billion
//  - Share from Equal Share: KES 2.5 Billion
//  - Share from Poverty:     KES 1.5 Billion
//  - Share from Land Area:   KES 0.5 Billion

// Total for Baraka County = 5.0 + 2.5 + 1.5 + 0.5
//                         = KES 9.5 Billion

// This KES 9.5 Billion is what Baraka County's government will use for its budget.

4. Public Participation (Ushirikishwaji wa Umma)

This is where YOU come in! Devolution is not a spectator sport. The law demands that county governments involve citizens in their decision-making processes. This is called Public Participation.

This means you and your community have the right to:

• Attend county assembly sittings.
• Give your opinion on proposed laws.
• Participate in forums to decide budget priorities (e.g., should we build a new market or a new stadium?).
• Question your leaders on how they are using public funds.

Real-World Scenario: In Elgeyo Marakwet county, citizens were unhappy with a plan in the county budget to build an expensive new government office. During a public participation forum (a *baraza*), they voiced their concerns. They argued the money would be better spent upgrading the local hospital. Because of their powerful, united voice, the county government changed the budget to prioritize the hospital. That is the power of public participation!

Putting It All Together

So, there you have it! These key concepts are not just words in a textbook; they are the engine of your local community's development. Devolution brings power to your doorstep, run by a County Government with two arms. This government is funded by a Division of Revenue from the national pot, and most importantly, you have the right and duty of Public Participation to guide how it works.

Next time you see a new county road being built or visit a clean local market, remember the incredible system of devolved government that makes it all possible. It's your government, so get to know it!