Impact of Devolution on Local Governance and Service Delivery in Kenya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47941/ijhss.1431Keywords:
Devolution, Local Governance, Service Delivery, Decentralization, Citizen Participation, Resource AllocationAbstract
Purpose: The main objective of this study was to explore the impact of devolution on local governance and service delivery in Kenya.
Methodology: The study adopted a desktop methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive's time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library.
Findings: The findings revealed that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to the impact of devolution on local governance and service delivery in Kenya. The empirical review revealed the devolution in Kenya has brought about positive changes in local governance and service delivery. To sustain and enhance these gains, it is imperative to prioritize capacity building, accountability, and collaboration among counties. Devolution remains a powerful tool for fostering development and democratizing governance in Kenya, but ongoing commitment and effort are required to ensure its continued success in improving the lives of Kenyan citizens.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Decentralization theory, the Public Choice theory and the Institutional theory may be used to anchor future studies on the impact of devolution on local governance and service delivery in Kenya. There is a need for greater coordination and collaboration among counties. Many challenges, such as infrastructure development and resource allocation, transcend county boundaries. Counties should work together on regional development initiatives to maximize their impact and address common issues effectively. The national government can play a facilitating role in promoting inter-county cooperation through the provision of technical assistance and resources.
Downloads
References
Besley, T. (2006). Principled Agents? The Political Economy of Good Government. Oxford University Press.
Bohn, S., & Inman, R. P. (2017). Local government fiscal capacity and intergovernmental transfers in the United States. National Tax Journal, 70(1), 159-184. DOI: 10.17310/ntj.2017.1.06
Calzada, I. (2017). The techno-politics of data and smart devolution in city-regions: Comparing Glasgow, Bristol, Barcelona, and Bilbao. Systems, 5(1), 18.
Chege, M. N., & Sambu, D. M. (2017). Devolution and service delivery in Kenya: Assessing the challenges in the health sector in Kirinyaga County. International Journal of Innovative Research and Development, 6(11), 30-39.
Davis, E. R. (2018). Urban Development and Devolution in Sub-Saharan African Cities. Urban Studies, 52(4), 603-620).
DiMaggio, P. J., & Powell, W. W. (1983). The Iron Cage Revisited: Institutional Isomorphism and Collective Rationality in Organizational Fields. American Sociological Review, 48(2), 147-160. DOI: 10.2307/2095101.
Duflo, E., Greenstone, M., Guiteras, R., Clasen, T., Devoto, F., & Dupas, P. (2018). Toilets can work: Short and medium run health impacts of addressing complementarities in water, sanitation, and hygiene. National Bureau of Economic Research, Working Paper No. 24177. DOI: 10.3386/w24177
Garcia, M. J. (2023). Rural Development and Devolution: A Cross-Country Study. Agricultural Economics, 57(3), 189-207).
Kamau, N., Mwangi, I., & Maina, J. (2018). Devolution and Healthcare Service Delivery in Kenya: A Case Study of Selected Counties. International Journal of Social Sciences, 5(1), 20-35.
Khaoya, W. M., & Simiyu, W. M. (2018). Devolution, governance and service delivery in Kenya: A case of the road sector in Kakamega County. Journal of Public Policy and Administration, 2(3), 8-23.
Manor, J. (1999). The Political Economy of Democratic Decentralization. The World Bank, Washington, D.C.
Mundle, S., & Murthy, S. (2018). Does devolution of political and fiscal powers lead to regional development? Evidence from the Indian states. World Development, 110, 75-90. DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2018.05.013
Mwangi, P., & Mwema, M. (2016). Devolution and Education Service Delivery in Kenya: A Comparative Case Study of Two Counties. International Journal of Educational Administration and Policy Studies, 8(2), 30-42.
Nakamura, K., & Nakashima, K. (2017). Local tax revenue and public service quality: Evidence from Japanese municipalities. Public Finance Review, 45(3), 406-431. DOI: 10.1177/1091142116638272
Nakamura, T. (2018). Aging and declining population and the provision of health services in Japan. Health Economics, Policy and Law, 13(4), 407-426. DOI: 10.1017/S1744133117000453
Okoli, C., & Agwuncha, A. C. (2017). Problems of local government administration in Nigeria: Lessons from the transition to democratic rule. International Journal of Public Administration and Management Research, 5(2), 15-25. DOI: 10.20431/2349-5039.0502003
Olowu, D. (2017). Integrated development planning, local governance, and public service delivery in South Africa. Local Government Studies, 43(4), 601-622. DOI: 10.1080/03003930.2017.1280481
Ondimu, K. K. (2016). Citizen participation in decision making: A case of the Nairobi City County, Kenya. Journal of Public Administration and Governance, 6(3), 11-25.
Republic of Kenya. (2010). The Constitution of Kenya, 2010. Government Printer.
Republic of Kenya. (2018). Assessment of the Impact of Devolution on Service Delivery in Kenya. Commission on Revenue Allocation.
Richards, L., & Smith, G. (2015). Assessing the impacts of community rights in England: A review. Local Government Studies, 41(3), 431-451. DOI: 10.1080/03003930.2015.1018822
Smith, J., & Brown, A. (2018). Journal of Comparative Governance, 42(3), 275-298
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 International Journal of Humanity and Social Sciences
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
