Kenya’s devolution experiment was meant to bring services closer to the people. Instead, it has increasingly become a shield for corruption, impunity, and unaccountable leadership. In this hard-hitting episode of Fanya Mambo, the spotlight turns to governors who are resisting Senate oversight while continuing to demand billions in public funds.
The message is blunt: account for public money or resign.
Devolution Is Not a License to Steal
Governors complaining about Senate scrutiny have framed accountability as “extortion.” But this narrative collapses under basic scrutiny. Senate committees rely on Auditor-General reports — documents produced independently, based on records submitted by the counties themselves.
If a governor’s books are clean, Senate questioning should pose no threat. The anger and resistance suggest something else: fear of exposure.
Public office does not come with immunity. Devolution does not replace accountability. County leaders are custodians of public resources, not their owners.
Senate Oversight Is a Constitutional Duty
The Constitution is clear: the Senate exists to oversee counties and ensure public funds are used lawfully. Refusing to appear before Senate committees is not an act of defiance — it is constitutional disobedience.
If governors believe senators are demanding bribes, the solution is simple:
- Present evidence
- Record conversations
- Report to investigative agencies
Empty accusations without proof only reinforce public suspicion that corruption is being hidden behind political noise.
The Auditor-General Did Not Write These Reports
One recurring argument from county leaders is that Senate scrutiny is politically motivated. But the reports under discussion are authored by the Auditor-General — not senators, not Parliament, not the opposition.
Misappropriated funds, inflated procurement costs, phantom projects, and unexplained assets are issues raised by counties’ own submissions. In many cases, governors have incriminated themselves through poor documentation and reckless spending.
Accountability is not persecution. It is governance.
Marginalization Is Not an Excuse for Theft
Some leaders from historically marginalized regions have attempted to weaponize marginalization narratives to escape scrutiny. This is both dishonest and dangerous.
Marginalized communities suffer the most when leaders steal:
- Hospitals remain without medicine
- Schools lack classrooms and teachers
- Water projects collapse
- Roads are abandoned
Blaming history does not explain why billions allocated today have nothing to show on the ground.
Parliament’s Dangerous Silence
While governors fight Senate scrutiny, Parliament has largely failed to prioritize urgent national crises. Education remains underfunded, health facilities are collapsing, and essential services are deteriorating — yet political energy is spent defending corruption or selling public assets.
This silence has consequences. When oversight collapses, service delivery collapses with it.
Stockholm Syndrome in Kenyan Politics
Perhaps the most troubling observation is the public’s growing tolerance of failure. Many Kenyans continue to defend leaders who:
- Loot public funds
- Deliver no services
- Silence accountability
- Blame everyone but themselves
This political Stockholm syndrome — where victims defend their abusers — has allowed corruption to thrive unchecked.
Democracy cannot survive on loyalty to personalities. It survives on accountability to citizens.
A Simple Standard: No Accountability, No Money
The solution is not complex:
- No appearance before Senate → No disbursement of funds
- Ring-fence money for health, education, and essential services
- Enforce transparency or enforce resignation
Public money must come with public answers.
The Question Kenya Must Face
Kenya must decide whether devolution will remain a tool for development or degenerate into a decentralized corruption scheme. Leaders who cannot face scrutiny should not hold office.
Accountability is not optional.
It is the price of leadership.
📺 Watch the full episode:
https://youtu.be/s3Qy-hmLpfg
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