Kang'ata: Corruption, delayed funds still a threat to devolution
National
By
Mike Kihaki
| Sep 01, 2025
Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata has described devolution as the greatest achievement of Kenya’s 2010 Constitution.
However, Kang’ata warned that systemic challenges, including delayed disbursement of funds, entrenched corruption, and weak payroll systems, continue to frustrate counties and undermine service delivery.
Speaking on Spice FM on Monday, Kang’ata said the devolved system of government had transformed political representation and inclusivity by giving all communities a stake in governance.
“Previously, we had a central form of government where quite several Kenyans, particularly the marginalized groups, felt that they were not fully represented at the centre,” said Kang’ata.
READ MORE
'You cannot grow an economy through taxation,' experts warn
Why two, three-bedroom units offer sweeter deal for property investors
Kenya set for first maritime training vessel from South Korea
Cost of property on the rise as development projects take shape in Murang'a
Why tenants in Africa pay rent years in advance
Deep-pocketed foreign banks beat Kenyan rivals with cheaper loan rates
UN to spend Sh43b on renovation, construction of offices at Gigiri
State urged to lift restrictions on drone deliveries
Safaricom unveils offer for digital taxi drivers, boda riders
'This is my plea': Exiting Afreximbank chief calls on African banks to close trade finance gap
The governor, who previously served as a senator for Murang’a, argued that devolution has helped dismantle the historical perception of dominance by larger ethnic groups.
He acknowledged that Kenya still struggles with ethnicized politics 15 years on after the promulgation of the Constitution and 14 years of devolution.
“We remained a country with several nations as opposed to one nation. Devolution, to a certain extent, has healed that,” he noted.
Kang’ata painted the strain caused by the national government’s delays in disbursing the equitable share of revenue to counties.
“Some counties pay after three or four months. It also means delayed projects and late payments to contractors. Sending billions at the end of the financial year and then faulting counties for poor absorption is unfair,” he said.
The governor admitted that corruption, long entrenched at the national level, has found a new home in counties.
“Yes, corruption was decentralized. But the problem remains both at the national and county levels,” he said.
He proposed automation of services as the most effective tool against graft.
“In Murang’a, our own source revenue was Sh500 million before automation. In the first year, it rose to Sh650 million, then to Sh1.1 billion, and last year we closed at Sh1.3 billion. Automation cuts corruption and inefficiencies.”
He blamed manual payrolls and casual employment systems for fueling ghost worker scandals across the country, calling for migration of services to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Database (IPPD).
Kang’ata admitted Murang’a uncovered 50 ghost workers during an internal audit.