Devolution, as enshrined in Kenya’s 2010 Constitution, was intended to fundamentally transform governance by bringing power closer to the people and fostering equitable development across all regions. At its core was the promise of accountable leadership, entrusted to county assemblies to provide rigorous oversight of governors and safeguard the public interest. The hope invested in these structures was immense: that through strong, competent, and principled Members of County Assemblies (MCAs), every Kenyan, regardless of location, would finally have a seat at the table of progress.
Yet the recent Kericho Governor impeachment debacle, where unverifiable electronic voting at the assembly and the inability of MCAs to defend their case in the Senate were evident, raises urgent questions about whether this promise is being realised. The incident is not an isolated embarrassment, but a call for deep reflection on whether the quality of MCAs elected in 2017 truly matches the spirit of accountability envisioned by the Constitution.
The Kericho County Governor impeachment hearings descended into circus when MCAs, expected to demonstrate oversight, instead exposed deep shortcomings. This was the second time they had presented their case to the Senate, after an earlier attempt in October was dismissed for failing to meet the threshold.
In this round, MCAs contradicted their own affidavits, some could not speak, gave shaky testimony, and could not defend their position with clarity or unity on the required standard. The confusion reached such heights that some even struggled to communicate coherently, turning what should have been an exercise in accountability into an episode of national embarrassment.
The recurring failures in county impeachment proceedings, such as the recent Kericho incident, spotlight the critical question of competence among MCAs in Kenya’s devolved system. While devolution promised accountable local leadership, the reality reveals county assemblies often lack the educational and professional preparation needed to meet these demands.
Since 2013, Senate impeachment trials have seen some governors removed and others survive, yet a unifying thread is the struggle of MCAs to meet the procedural and evidentiary standards required by the Senate. The law demands only a post-secondary qualification to be elected as an MCA; a modest bar compared to the rigorous requirements for county executives, such as Chief Officers in Finance who must possess advanced degrees, professional certifications, and years of experience.
Expecting MCAs with basic credentials to interpret complex budgets and scrutinize financial statements prepared by seasoned specialists overseeing billions in public resources is, in practice, a recipe for disappointment and ineffective oversight.
Despite the proliferation of MCAs across Kenya’s counties, mere numbers have failed to yield effective governance or meaningful scrutiny of the executive. The intended benefits of broad representation have been undermined by a lack of focus on the quality, rather than just the quantity, of those elected.
Far too often, voters prioritize local allegiances or patronage over the fundamental tests laid out in Chapter Six of the Constitution; integrity and competence. This neglect means many MCAs lack both the ethical foundation and the capacity to deliver on their oversight mandate, ultimately weakening the very vision that devolution set out to achieve.
The weakness of county assemblies is not accidental; it is a mirror held up to Kenyan voters and their choices in the 2017 elections and beyond. When voters choose MCAs based on ethnic loyalty, cash handouts, or populist promises rather than capability and integrity, they ultimately undermine their own interests.
The right to vote is matched by the responsibility to elect leaders who can legislate, provide oversight, and protect public resources. Every election is an opportunity to correct the failures of the past. As Kenyans reflect on recent embarrassments, it is time to ask: are voting decisions producing assemblies that can deliver on the true promise of devolution?
For Kenya’s county assemblies to truly deliver on devolution’s promise, urgent reforms must address the glaring gaps in both competence and preparedness among MCAs. The broad post-secondary qualification currently required for MCA positions is simply insufficient; it allows for unrelated credentials and ignores the profound technical, legal, and leadership challenges of the role. There is a pressing need for clearer, role-specific educational requirements, ideally demanding at least a diploma or degree in law, finance, public administration, or a related discipline directly relevant to county oversight.
However, qualifications alone are not enough; compulsory, ongoing capacity-building training must be institutionalized. Investing in structured induction and advanced skills workshops on budgeting, legislative drafting, public finance, and ethics will empower MCAs to scrutinize complex executive decisions and interpret financial reports with confidence.
National and county governments, possibly through coordinated efforts like the County Assembly Forum, should standardize and monitor this training while also fostering peer learning and mentorship among assemblies. Furthermore, the election processes for MCAs must give real weight to Chapter Six of the Constitution ensuring that integrity, demonstrated leadership, and public service motivation are prerequisites for those seeking office. By embracing these reforms, county assemblies would evolve from passive, overwhelmed bystanders to robust, proactive watchdogs, truly capable of protecting local interests and championing good governance at the grassroots.
Devolution represents Kenya’s most ambitious democratic experiment, promising to bring power, resources, and accountability closer to the people. Yet, the future of this vision rests fundamentally on the competence and integrity of county assemblies and, especially, their MCAs. When assemblies are robust and members are both well-qualified and principled, oversight flourishes and devolution deliver real transformation to local communities.
Conversely, weak assemblies, beset by incompetence or ethical lapses, threaten the very survival of devolution and undermine its benefits. As Kenya looks ahead, only by prioritizing strong, capable, and honest leadership within its county assemblies can the nation secure and sustain the promise of equitable development and participatory governance for generations to come.
Alfred Makotsi is a PhD Candidate (Diplomacy and International Relations), Mandela Washington Fellow (2025) and PLGP Fellow (2017)
