Rethink governance structure in Kenya

With the proclamation of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 came new structures of governance. Among these were 47 devolved units as county governments, in addition to the national government. Thus, Kenya operates with 48 governments.

Also coming with the 2010 Constitution was an expanded Judiciary with the addition of the Supreme Court with seven judges. On the legislative arm, there was an expanded National Assembly and an additional house, the Senate.

In essence, Kenya has become a very huge government machine. For the expanded governance structures to run, the Kenyan tax payers must pay for them dearly.

My concern, however, is the Senate. According to Article 96 of the Constitution, the Senate's top role is to protect county interests.

Making laws

The second and third roles of the Senate also relate to counties in terms of making laws concerning counties and determining the allocation of national revenue to counties.

The fourth and final role of Senate is oversight over state officers by determining any resolution to remove the President or his deputy from office.

In the recent past, Kenyans have been exposed to a sad situation in the Senate's mandate of determining the allocation of national revenue to counties.  On the eigth attempt by senators to argue out and agree on a formula to allocate resources to the 47 counties, I came to the realisation that all is not well with Kenya’s governance structures.

The Senate does not have very demanding roles to play.  In my view, Kenya has enacted in the Constitution an institution whose role is to deal with internal suspicions.

The four roles stipulated for the Senate can very well and easily be played by the previously one legislative House. Kenya does not need two legislative Houses, especially with regard to the limited roles of the Senate.

Expanded governance structures

Despite the Kenyan taxpayer being overburdened with paying for the expanded governance structures that include a huge Executive, Legislature and judiciary, the initial BBI report recommended a number of additional layers.

The report says Kenyans who spoke to them recommended a broadbased and inclusive Executive with characteristics such as: an executive president, deputy president, prime minister, leader of official opposition, shadow cabinet and a mixed cabinet made of politicians and technocrats.

Kenyans need to be made aware that they are going to pay even more for these positions.

Kenya is not a rich country. It is so unreasonable for Kenya to have 47 county governments with a population of 47 million.

Brown Onguko, Nairobi