Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has challenged county assemblies to step up and guard their oversight mandate, cautioning that their constitutional role within the devolved system must not be weakened.
Addressing Members of County Assemblies at the County Assemblies Forum Annual General Meeting held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Mudavadi said strong assemblies are key to keeping county governments accountable.
He reminded the MCAs that their positions carry weight and should not be taken lightly. Drawing lessons from former United States President Abraham Lincoln, Mudavadi pointed to the value of leadership built from legislative roles.
“One of the most important and renowned presidents of the United States… started off his political career looking for leadership in the assembly. He attempted about 16 times without victory, and then he decided he was going to go for the big seat,” Mudavadi said. “I’m not giving these good men and women ideas, but what I’m saying is that being a leader of a county assembly is a very, very significant assignment.”
He reflected on the path devolution has taken since the adoption of the Constitution of Kenya, noting that he was given the responsibility in 2013, while serving as Minister for Local Government, to help draft laws that would set up the new devolved units.
“We voted for the 2010 Constitution at a ratio of 67 per cent… to support devolution as the jewel in the ground. Devolution has matured. It has come of maturity. It is a very, very significant anchor in our Constitution,” he said.
Mudavadi described devolution as a firm pillar in Kenya’s governance structure and urged leaders to protect and support the institutions that sustain it. He acknowledged issues raised by the County Assemblies Forum and said he had engaged them on the instructions of the President. He voiced optimism that cooperation would help address the concerns raised.
“with your support and encouragement, we shall be able to overcome these challenges.”
In a pointed message to the MCAs, Mudavadi warned them not to surrender their authority to other bodies. He said the duty of oversight and accountability rests squarely with county assemblies and should not be taken over by any other institution.
“Do not allow your oversight and accountability role to be used up by another institution. You are the ones who are supposed to oversight the county government… reclaim your role as those who must provide oversight and accountabilities to county governments,” he said.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary also addressed ongoing debates around devolved funds. He called for the Ward Fund and the National Government Constituencies Development Fund to be firmly grounded in the Constitution to prevent repeated court battles and policy disputes.
“One of the issues… is to anchor the Ward Fund in the Constitution… so that all these debates as to whether it should be there or not be there can be closed once and for all,” he said.
His remarks placed county assemblies at the center of the devolution agenda, urging them to defend their mandate, strengthen accountability, and uphold the promise made to Kenyans when the Constitution ushered in a new system of governance.
