How President Ruto Has Killed Devolution: A Leader In Every Room
The Mt Kenya Times 
President William Ruto
By: Midmark Onsongo
Worth Noting:
- In fact, Ruto’s constant rallies are more of a platform for people to beg. Wherever he goes, whether it’s a governor, MCA, or even a citizen, everyone lines up with their requests—roads, bridges, hospitals, schools, clean water—the list goes on.
- These are issues that should be handled at the county level. But why are counties begging? Because the current national leadership does not give them the independence they deserve.
- It’s almost as if Ruto is the parent who gives a child a bicycle but refuses to let them ride it on their own, instead holding the handlebars and dictating every turn.
There’s an old saying that too many cooks spoil the broth, and if you ask me, President William Ruto’s interference in the affairs of counties has turned devolution into nothing more than a dysfunctional kitchen. Ruto, like a man who wants to be in every room of the house—whether it’s the kitchen, bedroom, or even the sitting room—seems to be meddling in areas that constitutionally belong to counties. The result? Counties, instead of standing tall on their own feet, are constantly kneeling, borrowing, and lamenting over roads, infrastructure, health care, and nearly every other basic service that devolution was supposed to improve. The idea of devolution was meant to shift power and resources away from the center to give counties autonomy, but with Ruto’s iron grip, we are seeing the death of this decentralization dream.
When the Constitution of Kenya 2010 was passed, one of its key pillars was the establishment of a devolved system of government. This was hailed as a breakthrough, especially for marginalized regions, promising them a direct say in their own development. But under President Ruto’s leadership, this ideal has been slowly strangled. Every time he takes the stage in his endless rallies, instead of citizens and politicians focusing on county-driven issues, they are crying for roads, water, health care—pleading for what should already be theirs. This shows a deeper issue: the counties have not been given the power, resources, or authority to deliver on their own mandates.
It is time to address the truth—devolution, as envisioned by the drafters of the Constitution, is in a coma, if not already dead. And the main culprit? President Ruto, with his overreach into county matters. His desire to control the national government and the county affairs alike is suffocating local governance. This level of interference is akin to a man running his house but also dictating what goes on in his neighbor’s home. The counties should be managing their own revenue, planning their own budgets, and solving local problems autonomously, but instead, they’ve become dependent on Ruto’s government for everything.
In fact, Ruto’s constant rallies are more of a platform for people to beg. Wherever he goes, whether it’s a governor, MCA, or even a citizen, everyone lines up with their requests—roads, bridges, hospitals, schools, clean water—the list goes on. These are issues that should be handled at the county level. But why are counties begging? Because the current national leadership does not give them the independence they deserve. It’s almost as if Ruto is the parent who gives a child a bicycle but refuses to let them ride it on their own, instead holding the handlebars and dictating every turn.
Take, for example, the issue of infrastructure. Roads and bridges are the arteries that drive economic activity in the counties, but even in matters as basic as this, counties are rendered powerless. Politicians flock to Ruto, crying for new road projects, but why? Shouldn’t counties have the capacity to develop their infrastructure without turning to the national government for handouts? This is a clear failure of devolution. The entire purpose was to empower counties to take on such responsibilities, not to remain beggars at the mercy of the President’s goodwill.
Health care is another crucial area where Ruto’s overreach has sabotaged devolution. The health sector was supposed to be fully devolved, but time and again, county governments are left stranded, with underfunded hospitals and neglected services. While governors continue to point fingers at the national government for failing to disburse funds on time, the bigger issue lies with the fact that counties are not generating their own revenue to handle such essential services. They are too dependent on Nairobi, where Ruto sits comfortably, pulling the strings of their survival.
As the Swahili proverb says, “Asiyefunzwa na mamaye, hufunzwa na ulimwengu,” meaning, “He who is not taught by his mother will be taught by the world.” The counties were supposed to learn how to manage their resources and services independently, but Ruto’s administration has refused to allow that lesson. Instead, he prefers to keep them in the kitchen, the bedroom, the sitting room—controlling every single thing. It’s almost as if the counties are not fully grown. And because they’ve never been given the space to mature, they’ve learned helplessness. They constantly beg for funds instead of finding ways to generate them.
The irony is that Ruto, who once championed devolution as Deputy President, is now the same person who is stifling it. His administration has not only delayed crucial disbursements to counties but has also failed to create an environment where counties can grow their revenue sources. Whether it’s through agriculture, tourism, or local industries, counties should have the liberty to establish their own economic engines. Instead, they are strangled by the national government’s overreach.
The solution? A complete devolution overhaul is necessary. Counties need to be given the power to fully manage their revenue. No more dependency on the national government. If counties can control their own taxes and manage local resources, they will be able to take charge of their own development. Imagine what could happen if every county had its own robust revenue-collection mechanisms. It would not only reduce the overreliance on Nairobi but would also spur local innovation and competition.
Moreover, the national government must stop interfering in county affairs. Just as a man should not dictate how every room in his house is run, neither should Ruto’s government micromanage counties. Counties know their problems best and should be trusted to solve them. By allowing counties to fully control their resources, we can unlock the true potential of devolution, giving every Kenyan a fair chance at development, no matter where they live.
President Ruto’s overreach has crippled devolution. Counties are no longer functioning as independent entities but have become mere appendages of the national government. The dream of devolution has been hijacked by a President who wants to control every room in the house. It’s time to reclaim the true spirit of devolution and give counties the freedom to govern themselves. As the Swahili saying goes, “Mti uliopandwa na mkono wa mwingine, hauwezi kuwa mrefu kama unavyotaka,” meaning, “A tree planted by someone else’s hand will never grow as tall as you’d like.” If we want counties to thrive, we must give them the independence to grow tall on their own, without the national government holding them back.
This article was scripted by;
MIDMARK ONSONGO
(Sustainable economist, Geopolitics strategizer)
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