What is devolution in Kenya?
Understand county and national responsibilities and why local services are not all managed by one office.
Power and services closer to residents
Articles 6 and 174 set out the two levels of government and objectives of devolution, including self-governance, public participation, equitable sharing of resources and accessible services. Article 186 and the Fourth Schedule allocate functions between the national and county governments.
County functions include county health services, county roads and local markets as described in the Fourth Schedule; national functions include national referral health facilities and national trunk roads. For a specific project, check which public body is responsible before attributing it to an individual leader.
County accountability
A county government consists of a county assembly and a county executive. The assembly makes county laws and oversees the county executive; the governor leads the county executive. The Senate protects county interests and oversees national revenue allocated to counties.