HOMA BAY, Kenya – Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina has ignited a storm over the 9th biennial Devolution Conference, branding it a “cartel’s annual party” and accusing some governors of abusing devolution for personal gain.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, Ole Kina alleged that certain county bosses have turned devolved governance into “their personal ATM,” saddling counties with unsustainable debt and “endless pending bills.”
“The so-called Devolution Conference? A cartel’s annual party for impunity, mocking the Constitution and spitting on the rule of law — or should I be politically correct and say it is a networking gala for entrenched interests, sustained by public funds and unconcerned with real accountability?” the senator wrote.
The Senate of Kenya must urgently convene its 1st Oversight Summit to lay bare how some governors have turned devolution into their personal ATM, drowning counties in debt and endless pending bills. The so‑called Devolution Conference? A cartel’s annual party for impunity,
Ole Kina’s remarks landed as delegates gathered in Homa Bay for the three-day summit, which brings together the national and county governments, development partners, civil society, and private sector stakeholders.
The conference, which opened on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, with a keynote address by President William Ruto, aims to assess progress in the devolved governance system introduced by the 2010 Constitution.
The event is structured around thematic days:
- Wednesday (Aug 13): Citizen participation, transparency, social accountability, and rule of law.
- Thursday (Aug 14): Inclusive access to socio-economic, civil, and cultural rights; representation of marginalized groups; and social equity.
- Friday (Aug 15): Fairness in resource allocation, MSME financing, pro-poor budgeting, and funding for special interest groups.
While organizers say the conference is designed to strengthen intergovernmental cooperation and improve service delivery, Ole Kina’s broadside has re-energized long-standing debates over financial discipline, corruption, and oversight in county governments.
His call for the Senate to urgently convene its first Oversight Summit suggests a push to intensify scrutiny on how counties spend public funds — a move that could put governors on the defensive as the summit continues.
