President Ruto Criticized for Scrapping Devolution Ministry

President Ruto has been faulted by a section of leaders for scrapping the Ministry of Devolution, which was created by his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta.

Ruto, who unveiled his 22 Cabinet Secretary nominees on Tuesday, retained all ministries from Kenyatta’s administration save for the Devolution docket.

He instead introduced the position of Prime Cabinet Secretary, where he appointed ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi. His main roles will be to oversee the government projects and coordinate national legislative agenda.

Outgoing Defense Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, who previously headed the Devolution Ministry, was among those who questioned Ruto’s move.

"…Am at a loss as to what happens to Devolution, is it an oversight or it is not a priority to this Administration?" he posed on Twitter after the new cabinet was unveiled. 

Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o also faulted the president for eliminating the ministry. 

“Having seen appointments to the Cabinet, equity and regional balance, two components of national unity, are prominent by their absence. What is even more striking is that devolution is not given the prominence it deserves as a state department on its own as is currently the case,” Nyong’o said. 

The Ministry of Devolution and Planning was introduced during Kenyatta’s first term in 2013 before it was restructured in 2018 and renamed Ministry of Devolution and Arid and Semi-Arid Lands. 

Council of Governors, Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee and the National Drought Management Authority were some of the institutions placed under the ministry whose function was to support County Governments through policy formulation, capacity support and intergovernmental relations.

Other functions included; Capacity building and technical assistance to counties, facilitation of intergovernmental relations between the national and county governments and among counties, facilitation of public participation in policy and decision-making processes, tracking of programme implementation in counties, coordination of stakeholders’ engagement, overseeing the management of public assets and liabilities at the county level, facilitation of the transfer of functions between the national and county governments, and food relief management.