Governors hail devolution’s big gains in health, education and agriculture

Governors have hailed devolution as a game-changer that has uplifted the lives and livelihoods of Kenyans, despite persistent challenges facing counties.

Making a case for continued support of the decentralised system, county chiefs described devolution as the most progressive form of bottom-up social, economic and political transformation.

Speaking during the 2025 Devolution Conference in Homa Bay on Thursday, Council of Governors (CoG) Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi said devolution remains an exemplary model of meaningful reform and the best gift Kenyans gave themselves in 2010.

The Wajir governor noted that counties have transformed multiple sectors, with benefits reaching grassroots communities. The primary goal of devolution, he said, was to ensure equitable distribution of development so that every Kenyan enjoys a dignified, quality life with access to public goods such as healthcare, water, food, housing, education and transport.

Highlighting progress over the past 12 years, Mr Abdullahi said the health sector has recorded the most significant gains. Devolving health functions has led to an increase in antenatal care and skilled deliveries, reflecting improved access to skilled birth attendants.

In 2013, the country had 8,466 health centres and dispensaries. Today, there are 14,710 operational health facilities—both public and private—thanks to sustained investments by counties in partnership with the national government and private sector. Public facilities make up 45 percent of the total, with 93 percent of these being Level 2 and 3 facilities, and the rest Level 4, 5, and 6.

In 2013, the sector had 874 medical doctors and 6,620 nurses. The numbers have since grown to 34,220 nurses, 4,651 doctors, 7,877 clinical officers, 4,686 laboratory technicians and technologists, and 1,942 nutritionists.

“This is more than a fourfold growth in human resources, underscoring counties’ significant investment in health personnel,” Mr Abdullahi said.

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At the community level, there are now 107,831 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) who strengthen preventive and promotive healthcare. CHPs, who initially worked without pay, now receive stipends from both the national and county governments.

In agriculture, counties served 541,627 farmers with extension services in 2016. That number has now risen to 6.5 million farmers, supported by 6,684 extension workers—an eightfold increase in nine years.

In education, counties have increased Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) centres from 5,951 in 2016 to 48,721 today. The number of ECDE teachers has grown from 30,049 to 78,101.

Counties have allocated Sh9.2 billion to the education function, including Sh6.8 billion to pre-primary education, translating to an average spend of Sh3,240 per learner.

CoG vice chairperson Mutahi Kahiga said counties have also automated and digitised services, with Murang’a, Kisumu, and Makueni achieving full digitisation. This has helped counties grow their own-source revenue to Sh58.95 billion in the financial year ending June 2024—the highest in 11 years.

“All 47 counties are automating revenue systems to enhance transparency and seal leakages,” said the Nyeri governor.

Murang’a, for example, Governor Irungu Kang’ata said his admnsitration has rolled out integrated systems for revenue collection, electronic land management, fleet management, and hospital information management—resulting in record collections.

In trade and investment, 34 counties are developing County Aggregation and Industrial Parks, with 13 set for completion and commissioning by year-end. These parks will provide aggregation and processing facilities, reduce post-harvest losses, enhance value addition, and boost farmers’ incomes.

Cooperative societies have also rebounded. There are now 1,806 cooperatives with a turnover of Sh56 billion, up from 1,396 in 2016. Nationally, the total number of registered cooperatives has grown from 20,175 to 21,016 in the past year.

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