This archive report was first published on 24 September 2019.
November 9th, 2017, marked a significant development in the opposition's strategy to resist the Jubilee administration. The National Super Alliance (NASA) plans to draft a motion that will be tabled in all 'NASA controlled' county assemblies from next week to establish people's assemblies in the devolved units.
This move is part of the opposition's strategy to resist what they perceive as electoral dictatorship by the Jubilee administration. However, experts warn that this approach could undermine the spirit of devolution and lead to bad governance.
According to Article 196 of the Constitution, public participation is a concept that is anchored in our constitution. In fact, the law stipulates that counties set aside funds for public sensitization meetings and forums. NASA leaders have been aware of this provision, but in the past, they seem not to have been interested in involving the people in governance issues.
Now, the opposition plans to use people's assemblies to disseminate anti-government propaganda, which is against the concept of Constitutionalism as one of the cornerstones of Democracy. Public participation should be a lifelong character of Devolution, not a tool to settle political scores.
Article 189 of the Constitution describes the nature of relations that should exist between the national government and the government of the counties. It talks about co-operation, consultation, support, respect, sharing of information, and such other things that put the public interest at the core of inter-governmental relations.
It is therefore prudent that the opposition thinks of other ways to check the Jubilee administration instead of poisoning inter-governmental relations. By construing public participation to be a bludgeon intended only for the national government, county governments will run unchecked.
Steve Biko once said, 'the power of a movement lies in the fact that it can indeed change the habits of men. This change is not as a result of force, but of dedication and moral persuasion.'
Published on Kenyan Report on November 9th, 2017.
