The Council of Governors has retreated at the Maasai Mara National Reserve for a two-day summit to reflect, realign, and review the course of devolution after the first year of the third cycle of devolution.
The Council of Governors Chairperson Ann Waiguru said they will assess the weakness, strengths, opportunities and threats of devolution and take a position on how the council can take matters of devolution forward.
“As a council, we want to review the progress we have made so far, in relation to the ten years of devolution. The decision to hold this kind of a retreat was taken when we were going to the elections,” she said.
In the two-day retreat, she said, the governors will deliberate on how they will engage other stakeholders including the National Government, civil society and the private sector.
“We will be looking at the various functions that we carry out, which are still outstanding and need to be transferred to the County, and resourcing of the functions from development partners, national government, equitable share and conditional grants,” she continued.
The Council of the Governors, she said, will also be looking at how effectively they have been able to deliver services according to the citizens’ expectations.
The Council’s chair who doubles as the Governor of Kirinyaga thanked Narok Governor Patrick Ntutu for hosting them at the World-Famous National Reserve.
Vice Chairman and Governor of Wajir Ahmed Abdulahi said among the issues they will be deliberating on is the effects of El-Nino rains that are causing havoc in parts of North Eastern and Coastal regions.
“We will give the resolutions after we have completed our deliberations tomorrow,” said Governor Abdulahi.
Nandi County Governor Stephen Sang said the Governors will be joined by the Cabinet Secretary in Charge of Environment, Forestry and Climate Change Soipan Tuya to plant trees so that the governors can lead by example.
Narok Governor Ntutu welcomed the Council of Governors in the County and recognized the heavy rains that are currently ravaging many parts of the country saying they will discuss solutions to the challenges the people are facing.
By Ann Salaton
