As
we head towards elections it is expected that while the Opposition uses its mobilization
skills and local networks around the country to “spread the word” on its
behalf, the Incumbent shall as is the tradition rely heavily on state machinery
and structures to popularize its re-election agenda.
As
the hunt for votes gears up as we approach the election year, the role of the
National Government Administrative Officers will rear its ugly head yet again,
exposing the feeble underbelly of the relationship between the National and
County Governments. Again, the constitutional mantra of interdependence between
these two levels of government will be tested.
It
is at this stage that a “restructured provincial administration” will either
show proof that it can, intends to and has shaken off its former, post-
colonial public image, or will as is widely expected take up its traditional
monsterish, authoritarian role and push the government’s political agenda.
The
Constitution lf Kenya, 2010 re-ordered the nature of Kenya’s post-colonial
state, it deconstructed the logic of state power and rule, deconstructed the
‘imperial presidency’ and its arm of authoritarian rule – the provincial
administration.
In
the actualization of self-governance administratively, the Constitution vested
all County Executive Authority in the County Executive Committee (CEC) headed
by an elected Governor and deputy.
As
representatives of the President at local levels, the provincial administration
under the old order exercised upward accountability, as they were answerable to
and served at the pleasure of the President.
Since
local leadership in the form of the CEC is accountable to the people, is the
provincial administration in addition to being answerable to the President also
answerable to the people as it purports to shake off its operational history?
President
Uhuru’s action in 2014 to increase and delegate powers to the 47 County
Commissioners faced harsh criticism for its attempt to create two centers of
power at the county level. These increased roles have pitted County
Commissioner against Governor – most notable in Mombasa County where Mr. Marwa
is perpetually at loggerheads with Governor Joho.
It
would for instance be fundamentally wrong for a County Commissioner to go
around saying; “you need to join this
government as it is the only one that will guarantee you development…. There is
no development you will get when you remain outside government.” A
statement such as this by a public officer meant to serve the citizenry
impartially would be detrimental to the sensitive and delicate process of
promoting interdependence.
For
the National Administration as currently constituted to effectively and
impartially serve the people of Kenya it ought to play a central role in the
coordination of issues between the central and county government and promote
the interdependence of these two levels of government.
Campaigning
for the Jubilee Party will do very little in promoting this very important constitutional
principle. As public servants National Government Administrative Officers must
keep off politics.
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