The Meaning of a Devolved Government
THE MEANING OF “DEVOLVED GOVERNMENT”
Devolution of government means the statutory granting of powers from the central government of a sovereign state at a sub-national level such as a regional local or state level (Wikipedia,
2012).
Devolution is normally used interchangeably with the term decentralization. Decentralization, according to the Constitution of Kenya, entail sharing of political, administrative and fiscal responsibilities between the national and the county governments.
Administrative decentralization refers to the full or partial transfer of functional responsibilities to the sub-national units of governance. Political decentralization involves the transfer of political authority to the local level through the establishment of sub-national governments as well as electoral and political party reforms. Fiscal decentralization refers to the transfer of financial authority to the sub-national governments by reducing the conditions on the intergovernmental fiscal transfer of resources and granting sub-national units greater authority to generate their own revenue. It is the assignment of these three dimensions of power which determine the level of decentralization.” (Mwenda A.K, 2010)
Devolution of government in Kenya is legally provided for by the “Devolved Government Act”
(2011). This Act was formulated to provide for county governments powers, functions, and responsibilities to deliver services and to provide for other connected purposes.
THE COUNTY AS A LEVEL OF SUB-NATIONAL PLANNING AND GOVERNANCE
Sub-national planning
In the past planning and policy making has been done entirely by Ministries especially the
Ministry of State for National Planning. With respect to specifically spatial planning, the
Ministry of Lands and Settlements, through the Department of Physical Planning has been on the task. However, in the devolved government framework, in the counties there will be officers in charge of planning cities, municipalities
Devolution of government means the statutory granting of powers from the central government of a sovereign state at a sub-national level such as a regional local or state level (Wikipedia,
2012).
Devolution is normally used interchangeably with the term decentralization. Decentralization, according to the Constitution of Kenya, entail sharing of political, administrative and fiscal responsibilities between the national and the county governments.
Administrative decentralization refers to the full or partial transfer of functional responsibilities to the sub-national units of governance. Political decentralization involves the transfer of political authority to the local level through the establishment of sub-national governments as well as electoral and political party reforms. Fiscal decentralization refers to the transfer of financial authority to the sub-national governments by reducing the conditions on the intergovernmental fiscal transfer of resources and granting sub-national units greater authority to generate their own revenue. It is the assignment of these three dimensions of power which determine the level of decentralization.” (Mwenda A.K, 2010)
Devolution of government in Kenya is legally provided for by the “Devolved Government Act”
(2011). This Act was formulated to provide for county governments powers, functions, and responsibilities to deliver services and to provide for other connected purposes.
THE COUNTY AS A LEVEL OF SUB-NATIONAL PLANNING AND GOVERNANCE
Sub-national planning
In the past planning and policy making has been done entirely by Ministries especially the
Ministry of State for National Planning. With respect to specifically spatial planning, the
Ministry of Lands and Settlements, through the Department of Physical Planning has been on the task. However, in the devolved government framework, in the counties there will be officers in charge of planning cities, municipalities
References: 1. G.o.K, 2o11, Urban Areas and Cities Act 2. G.o.K, 2011, Devolved Government Bill 3. Mwenda A.K. {2010} Economic and Administrative Implications of the Devolution Framework Established by the Constitution of Kenya, Institute of Economic Affairs, Nairobi, Kenya 3