The Promise of Devolution

17^th June 2013

The Promise of Devolution in Nairobi; a critical look at the pledge from the Governor on his Inauguration- A speech delivered at the Internews Forum on Devolution in Nairobi by Odhiambo T Oketch
In his inaugural speech to the residents of Nairobi during his Inauguration as the 1^st Governor of Nairobi City County at Uhuru Park some three months ago, Dr Evans Kidero invited the residents of Nairobi to join with him in appreciating Devolution as long as it remain a central pillar in our Constitution.
He gave our historical evolution from being a resting place for the Indian Coolies who were building the Kenya Uganda Railway to the current bustling City in the Garbage. He outlined challenges that were facing Nairobi, challenges that Devolution would surely help tackle.
I hence would like to only address 4 key areas that he covered in his speech and offer some insights as a resident of Nairobi and as a key player in developing our National Agenda.
Bloated/Ghost/Inefficient Work Force
Key in his agenda was having the right staff that felt more motivated and remunerated to provide better services to Nairobians. As residents, we have all along lived with the ignominy of ghost workers at the City Council. With the advent of Devolution and with the coming in of a Governor, we are optimistic that the issue of ghost and bloated work force that has been inefficient will be tackled.
Mr. Phillip Kisia during his tenure as our Town Clerk tried to address this issue when the Stakeholder Evaluation Team at the City Council of Nairobi, which I was privileged to chair then, made some recommendation on how best to address the issue. He invited PriceWaterHouseCoopers to do a Human Resource Audit that exposed the rot in the hiring process at the Council.
However, in his bid to address the menace of the ghost and absent workers, he ran on the thick block of the cartels that benefit from such scenarios. He was unable to address the bloated wage bill that comes with an absent workforce. It is our hope that Governor Kidero will address this issue without pandering to the whims of the vested groups and cartels.
It might be too early to gauge how effective the Governor is going to be, but as a people living in Nairobi, we want this issue resolved. Three months might not be sufficient for the Governor to prune the undesired elements from the County administration, but the devolved system of administration has given much prominence to People Participation. Three Months is sufficient time to lay the bricks. If they have not been done, then we as a people must start asking the hard questions; is Dr Kidero equal to the task or is it just hot air and no substance?
A Stakeholders Forum on the Nairobi we Want can be a first step in solving the issue of ghost, bloated and inefficient workforce that saddles Nairobi.
We also identified that some Departmental Directors had overstretched egos that intimidated the City Council workers. It is our wish that Dr Kidero brings on board his management acumen to help boost the confidence of the City Work Force. One thing we did appreciate is the professional quality of many of the City Staffers. Dr Kidero must motivate and appreciate them. He must not intimidate them.
As residents, we have worked with these staffers at the Council/County and we know them and their various Capacities.
Solid Waste Management
We at The Clean Kenya Campaign-TCKC were happy when the Governor identified Solid Waste as an issue that has bedeviled Nairobi. In partnership with the various Partners both in and out of Government, we had launched The Monthly Nationwide Clean up Campaigns across all Kenya. I am happy that the first such Campaign was officially launched by the then Mayor of Nairobi Cllr Geoffrey Majiwa on the 18^th September 2010 in Eastleigh in Nairobi in partnership with us.
Then the Campaign was launched by the then Prime Minister the Rt Hon Raila Amolo Odinga at Markinon Market in Mombasa in February 20^th 2011. We then launched the same in Eldoret with Hon William Ruto- now our Deputy President, in Kisii with Ms Janet Ongera- now Nominated Senator, in Kisumu with the then Mayor Cllr Sam Okello, in Kakamega with the then Mayor Cllr Matias Job Sichele, in Nyeri with the then Mayor Cllr Edward Muteru, and in many other places.
The question of Solid Waste Management has been very close to our hearts at The Clean Kenya Campaign-TCKC. And when the Governor talked about it, we were elated. Elated because, we assumed that at long last we had voted in to office a Leader who would streamline the mess in the Department of Environment.
Waste is a global issue and according to the last report on Municipal Solid Waste by the World Bank, the World is generating 1.1 Billion Tonnes of Waste annually currently. Managing this is costing the World USD 205 Billion annually. This is projected to increase to 2.2 Billion Tonnes of Waste by 2025 to be managed at the cost of USD 375 Billion annually. This is huge. And when I look at the kind of games being played at our own Department of Environment in Nairobi, I get convinced that we have journeymen in honeymoon at this Department.
The Dirty Landhis Road in Nairobi
How can we spend Kshs 40 Million every Month on servicing 20 Contracted Garbage Truck Collectors? The question is, who is pocketing this money on a Monthly basis, because, Garbage is not being collected in Nairobi?
This is one area the Governor must zero in, zoom his lenses and cause visible action if he wants the people of Nairobi to help him appreciate the benefits of Devolution. We must start and institutionalize the process of Separation of Waste at Source as a County and track each Waste Handler to tackle a definite Waste Stream. This will not only create order and help restore Nairobi to her lost image as a Green City in the Sun but will make the city feel safer and more secure.
Insufficient Infrastructural Development
Whenever it rains in Nairobi, many people wish it happened when they were already at home, simply because Nairobi gets clogged in a very stupid way. All our drainage systems drain storm water on to the road, and it has left many residents wondering what happened to our Engineers. Did they go to the same engineering classes with the rest of the Engineers or what happened?
This is one area the Governor must address as we put the process of Devolution into practice.
Poor Public Transpot Management System
Nairobi is the only City in the World without organized Public Transport System. Residents spend valuable work hours in traffic gridlocks and it becomes very annoying when you spend a cumulative 6 hours on traffic every day- 3 in the morning and 3 in the eveing.
The Governor and his Team must identify a Transport System that is reliable, timely and efficient to traverse Nairobi. The World Metropolis have the Tram Systems and I do not see why Nairobi cannot have the same. Dr Kidero must put his hands down very firmly and deal with the cartels that keep resisting the development of a working Transport System in our Towns.
We know the Cartels thrive and make more money in such disorders, but as Residents of Nairobi City County, we want to see the Governor break these Cartels so that we can enjoy the promise of Devolution!
In conclusion, as a resident of this great county of Nairobi City, I am urge my governor to;

1.       Ensure we have an efficient and appreciated workforce at the Nairobi City County,

2.       Ensure that we institute the process of separation of waste at source in Nairobi,

3.       Address the insufficent infrastructural development in Nairobi, and

4.       Address the crippling Poor Public Transport Management System in Nairobi

Let us all work for a Clean Kenya and a Clean Africa as a Transformative Deliverable as we turn 50 in Kenya, and as we work for a Clean General Election. 

Odhiambo T Oketch is the Executive Director at The Clean Kenya Campaign-TCKC and the Team Leader at KCDN and KSSL
The Clean Kenya Campaign is an Initiative of The KCDN Kenya