Devolution has fostered equity by distributing resources fairly and addressing historical imbalances. It has enhanced inclusion by empowering communities, women, youth and persons with disabilities to participate fully in development.

According to a report by the Council of Governors’ (COG) Maarifa Centre, county governments have continued to thrive and develop since the advent of devolved governance, with residents benefitting significantly.

A look at the counties per region corroborates the report’s insights, with the lake region counties leading the pack.

They have recorded tremendous economic growth through initiatives focused on fisheries, aquaculture and infrastructure development powered by the maritime and blue economy sector.

These initiatives have created jobs, improved livelihoods for residents and contributed immensely to the national economy.

In the Rift Valley, counties are performing well with livestock keeping and food production as their economic backbone.

This has been supported by local investments in the two sub-sectors, as well as improved access to farm inputs, extension services and infrastructure such as irrigation schemes by both the national and county governments.

In the Coastal region, where the main focus is the blue economy, tourism and agriculture, devolution has significantly boosted people’s wellbeing.

Tourism has played a key role in promoting community-based initiatives, fostering local participation and diversifying products. This has increased household incomes, generated revenue and created jobs, among other direct and indirect benefits.

Counties have also developed and marketed new tourism products to attract both domestic and international visitors, reducing seasonality by offering different attractions throughout the year.

Community-based tourism initiatives supported by devolution have created direct revenue streams and improved incomes for county governments and communities, contributing to poverty reduction.

Furthermore, devolution has encouraged the national government to invest more in regional infrastructure such as roads, airports and communication networks, boosting tourist confidence and creating a more welcoming environment.

In North Eastern counties, devolution’s impact is evident in newly completed tarmac roads, with more under construction in previously neglected areas. Modern maternity wings are being set up in rural hospitals, and innovative agricultural programmes are positively transforming livelihoods.

President William Ruto, while opening this year’s Devolution Summit in Homa Bay last week, noted that investments were the lifeblood of economic transformation.

He hailed counties’ contribution in injecting capital, spurring innovation, generating employment and unlocking communities’ potential in national development.

Under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, the President said his government was working with counties to build one bankable, high-impact value chain in every region. Counties, he observed, were assisting locals to benefit from improved service delivery in healthcare, education, water, infrastructure, agriculture and food security, with each county recording its own success story.

Overall, devolution has provided opportunities for women and other marginalised groups to participate in county-level planning and budgeting, thereby promoting gender-responsive development.

President Ruto emphasised that devolution was not merely a constitutional provision but “the crown jewel of our democratic governance and the proudest achievement of the people of Kenya.”

“From the very first day of my administration, I pledged to accelerate the full transfer of all outstanding devolved functions as assigned in the Fourth Schedule of our Constitution, together with the requisite resources, and this is now fulfilled,’’ he said.

The commitment was formalised during the 11th National and County Government Coordinating Summit held at State House, Nairobi, on 16 December 2024. At the meeting, he directed the Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee to finalise the delineation, unbundling and gazettement of all pending functions, and to initiate the systematic transfer of budgetary allocations and other resources tied to those functions without undue delays.

“In a further demonstration of our commitment to devolution, I signed into law two landmark pieces of legislation: the County Public Finance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the County Allocation of Revenue Bill, 2025. These laws cement the principle of horizontal revenue sharing among counties and consolidate the place of county assemblies, while clearly defining the respective responsibilities of both county and national governments,” the President affirmed.

He added that this was not just a legal act but a statement of intent that counties must have the means, the mandate and the clarity to serve the people effectively.

The President further noted that his administration had allocated an unprecedented Sh415 billion to the 47 counties this year, nearly Sh30 billion more than last year’s KSh387.425 billion, through the Division of Revenue Act, 2025, in strict adherence to the revenue-sharing formula set out in Article 217 of the Constitution.

He emphasised the use of technology to eliminate wastage and enhance efficiency in the appropriation of public resources.

He cited the e-Citizen platform, noting: “Since its inception in 2013, the platform has stood at the heart of Kenya’s digital transformation. What began with a handful of services has evolved into a 24/7 one-stop shop for over 22,000 government services, accessible anywhere in the world.”

Today, more than 14 million Kenyans are registered, with half a million logging in daily to access passports, driving licences, business registrations, land transactions, marriage certificates, police clearances and much more, all without queues, intermediaries or unnecessary bureaucracies.

He highlighted that counties integrating their digital portals with e-Citizen had seen remarkable growth. Mombasa’s revenues rose from Sh1.6 billion to Sh2.57 billion (61 per cent growth), Kiambu’s from Sh2 billion to Sh3.04 billion (52 per cent growth), and Kajiado’s from Sh1.4 billion to KSh2.07 billion (48 per cent growth). Other counties such as Bomet, Tharaka-Nithi and Meru have posted similar improvements.

“The platform has been an engine of economic opportunity, creating over 600,000 jobs in ICT, support services, logistics and other sectors, proving that digitisation is not just about convenience but also about livelihoods,” the President observed.

Most importantly, he added, e-Citizen has been a powerful weapon against corruption as it eliminates cash handling and embeds full digital audit trails, thereby reducing opportunities for bribery and making transactions traceable, fair and secure.

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi also urged political leaders and stakeholders not to allow short-term political interests to dilute the long-term vision of equitable development. He stressed that devolution is a continuous journey that requires vigilance, courage and commitment.