The two-day Governors’ Summit concluded
Tuesday with participants hopefully re-energised, refocused and
resolved towards more effectively pursuing the onerous tasks they all
face that are crucial to the development and survival of devolution.
Away
from the usual recriminations and blame games, the county government
chiefs got the opportunity for sober reflection on where they have been
and where they are going.
Together with key external
speakers headlined by Rwandan President Paul Kagame and a host of
experts from various fields, the governors exchanged views in an
atmosphere that encouraged free and frank debate and sharing of
experiences.
We have no doubt that all who participated
in the summit, whether Governors, representatives of the National
Government, academics, professionals, diplomats, and public servants,
among others, took home something valuable and enriching.
The
governors got a chance to learn from various experiences of devolution
and some very practical illustrations of what they can do to build the
economic and social fabric of their counties. Others present got to hear
from the governors about the very real challenges that have hampered
progress.
However, all must now recognise that county
governments will not work as envisaged unless some very serious
constraints are addressed.
For those who wish
devolution well, the next logical step is not just a governors’ summit,
but a much wider discourse bringing together the county governments at
both Executive and Legislative branches, the National Executive, the
National Assembly and Senate, and constitutional and statutory
commissions germane to devolution.
It is at such a forum that hurdles on the path to devolution can be identified and removed.
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