Govt rolls out study to assess impact of devolution

The  government  has commissioned a study to assess the impact of devolution and the challenges facing the  system in the country.

The 10-month study to be undertaken by the World Bank seeks to document success stories of devolution across the country at the same time pinpoint areas that require to be fixed to make the system a success.

The  World Bank’s Senior Urban Specialist Abdul  Mwonge,  who is heading the study, said focus shall be on water, education, agriculture, health and urban services.

“We want to assess how devolution has impacted the five sectors. We shall be looking at the human resource function and accountability issues as well,” he said.

This is the first time such a study is being conducted in the country since devolution was rolled out seven years ago.

Mwonge said the national government and Council of Governors are expected to use the findings of the study to strengthen  devolution through addressing the various gaps that shall be identified.

Speaking in Kisumu on Thursday while on a fact finding mission for the study, Mwonge said all the 47 counties shall be  reviewed before the team hands over the report in June next year.

The team also visited projects under the World Bank sponsored Kisumu Urban Programme (KUP).

Kisumu received Ksh 4.5 billion to roll out various projects under the programme, which, according to Mwonge, are on course.

“We are here to talk to the beneficiaries of the projects and generally assess the progress made so far and accountability  issues,” he said.

Kisumu city manager Dorris  Ombara  said among the projects include a youth centre, fire stations, city drainage master plan and walkways.

The projects, he said, have been commissioned and are expected to be completed in a year’s time.

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“We have awarded the tenders and done the ground breaking for the projects. We expect the contractors to be finished and handed over in 12 months,” he said.