GOR: Mixed bag for Kisii as Governor Arati marks two years in office

On June 30, 2023, the Council of Governors (COG) chair Anne Waiguru delivered the 10th State of Devolution Address (SODA) at Safari Park Hotel.

While taking stock of the achievements, she noted with lots of pride, the achievements across devolved units among them trade and investment, roads and urban development as well as health.

Her observations were concurring with the 2023 Economic Survey report that confirmed that county government's initiatives in agriculture and other fronts had significantly improved livelihoods.

Among the interventions in agriculture include distribution of seedlings, AI and agricultural extension services to farmers.

Kisii county is one of the 47 devolved units that has made positive strides since devolution.

On the August 25, 2022, a new county head was sworn in to take the mantle of leading Kisii County to achieve its greatest objective--prosperity for all.

While addressing the first sitting of the third assembly, the governor said, “ the great people of Kisii have brought us to the foot of the mountain”.

He would add that “the pick of this mountain is the realisation of the promises made to the people as well as expected constant good and effective service delivery.”

He also noted that in order to climb that mountain, it was important to start by reuniting the people for we had come from high voltage devisive political environment.

While devolution presents unique challenges and opportunities for all devolved units, Kisii county's residents were optimistic that the new leadership, which was voted in on the age and youthful vibrancy, was best fitted to deliver on their aspirations. It was not lost on them that the new leadership was presented with realities that sharply contrasted.

His leadership experience

Governor Arati's 15 years of experience in representing the people was not of the magnitude that he was presented with.

He was well versed with managing the NG-CDF kitty of approximately Sh140 million, now he is presented with an annual budget of Sh13 billion, he had previously managed the needs of five(5) wards and a total population of about 200,000 individuals, now he was faced with 45 electoral wards and 1.2 million individuals.

He was moving from a purely cosmopolitan environment with a fairly educated and socially exposed population to a mixed population with various conflicting needs from cultural barriers to youthful demands. 

While the two constituencies were different in its composition, a few fundamental realities were common; the need for better housing, good education, food security and a stable micro-economy.

In his own terms, he referred to the task ahead as a mountain. But the optimism in his opening remarks brought hope for a better Kisii.

According to the Kisii County Integrated Development Plan 2023-2027, the challenges faced in the past five(5) years included huge pending bills, unavailability of land for public amenities, unmet revenue targets spending own source revenue at source  high wage bill, weak coordination between national government among many others.

It is these challenges that informed the new solutions proposed by the Arati administration.

As at end of financial year 22/23, Kisii County had received  approximately Sh80 billion from the exchequer but her poverty levels was still at 41.7 percent against the national figure of 36.1 percent.

Efforts to reduce this further, with deliberate involvement of the people had to be put in place.

While the controller of budget (COB) report on budget absorption for the last quarter is not yet shared, Kisii County administration is optimistic that the report will look better than it has been in the past four quarters where Kisii county had absorbed less than 7pc of its  development budget allocation.

The optimism comes from the numerous social media posts from ward representatives confirming projects that are launched, those that are ongoing and those that are completed.

A number of roads, ECDE centres, markets and market sheds, and water reticulation services are among the projects that have indicated as ongoing and some completed.

In the past two(2) years, the department of health (which receives more than a third of the total county budget allocation ) has experienced a mixed bag of reaction.

While it celebrates the first successful delicate brain surgery and a revived morgue facility, health workers have been seen on the streets on several occasions, petitioning the county leadership to look into their pay, working conditions and health insurance.

In trade department, collaboration with the national government has brought progress. The launch of the County Industrial and Aggregation Park at Tongeri in Bomachoge Borabu was widely celebrated.

The county should press further to ensure that the journey started comes to fruition.

The decision of the department  of market and trade to complete stalled projects was the best. Suneka market, a project initiated over 10 years ago, had consumed over Sh80 million from the taxpayer, yet it was inhabitable. 

It further allocated Sh20 million in financial year 22/23, which focused on completing the ground floor and other outdoor works.

The contractor on site confirms that traders in the area will comfortably access the building by the end of the year.

Relocation of Suneka traders to the market would decongest the busy town since transport service providers are currently occupying the busy highway.

Support from the national government and other development partners has seen the expansion of markets within Kisii county.

Magena,Marani, and Mogonga markets were recently launched and handed while Motonto and Mogweko, which are funded by the national government through the Affordable Housing and Markets programme are at advanced stage.

Significant improvements have been noted in the department of health, trade, roads, and education.

However, deliberate focus should be put on collaborating with national security agencies to curb instances of mugging and violence, especially in political gatherings.

GBV cases are on the rise, with the office of the woman representative recording rape cases to minors as young as one year!

New HIV infections among young adults and increased rate of drug abuse is a slow puncture that will erode the positive strides that have been made towards societal development.

Deliberate action and proper budgeting should be geared towards dealing with this triple threat: insecurity, GBV, and new HIV infections.

Many residents believe that a better micro-economic status will be achieved when social welfare is catered for and the Arati administration prioritises the flagship projects as captured in the CIDP 23/27.

The flagship projects are: Upgrade of Kisii Bus Park, Construction of Nyangweta Sugar factory and refurbishment of the Kenya Industrial Estate at Daraja Mbili.

The latest reports show that Kisii county has improved in recollection own source revenue, it is expected that the increase in collection will translate to better service delivery and a more contented human resource.

The county leadership must make efforts to align its development priorities with that of the people. More public participation forums and dedicated implementation of proposals from the people.

The county's economic advisors must find a formular to reduce allocations to recurrent budget and increase development kitty.

County treasury ensure all verified pending bills (latest figure was Sh231 million) is fully paid to improve money circulation.

-Hon Gor is a Nominated MCA at the Kisii County Assembly under Kenya National Congress