Task Force on Devolved Government’s Term Extended
On June 20, 2011, the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry of Local Government extended the term of office of the Task Force on Devolved Government and that of the National Steering Committee on Devolved Government to 22nd August, 2011. The TFDG is expected to submit to the Steering Committee the Final Report by the end of July, 2011. This was contained in Gazette Notice No. 6992 of June 20.
The Task Force on Devolved Government (TFDG) was established on the 22nd of October 2010 through Gazette Notice 12876 dated 25th October 2010. Additional members of the Task Force and Steering Committee were gazetted on 3rd December 2010.
The purpose of the task force was to help think through the implementation of the devolution process and advise the government on policy and legal frameworks of devolving power, resources and responsibilities to the people of Kenya for effective local development. The Task Force was officially launched on 8th November 2010 by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Government, Mr. Musalia Mudavadi.
Task Force Releases Interim Report on Devolved Government:
The Task Force on the Devolved Government released its interim report on 20th April 2011. The purpose of the interim report was to enable stakeholders validate it and provide further input on the proposed implementation mechanisms, policies and pieces of legislation on the devolved system of government in Kenya, as envisaged in the Constitution of Kenya 2010 promulgated on 27th August 2010.
The Interim Report of the Task Force on Devolved Government contains detailed analysis of such issues concerning the devolved government including the elaboration on shared institutions between the national and county governments; the levels and units of governance within the forty-seven (47) devolved units; the assignment of functions to the various levels of governance and their implications for public service delivery; the integrated development planning in the county governments and the linkages to national level planning; the intergovernmental relations and dispute resolution framework the framework effective citizen participation in the processes and institutions of devolved government; effective county public service, and county financial resources and their management structures and mechanisms, responsive to the status of counties and the imperatives of the Constitution of Kenya and public communication and civic education matters relevant to devolved government.
International Symposium on devolved government
Between June 7 and 9, a three day Symposium on devolved government was held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi.
Issues discussed included the benefits and efficiency of a devolved government system, as well as the best possible ways of its implementation in Kenya. Many international delegates participated in this conference in order to discuss the benefits and efficiency of a devolved government system, as well as the best possible ways of its implementation in Kenya.
On June 7 and 8 2011, the participants worked in smaller groups on different topics to find ways to enhance and structure the process of implementation. The findings were later presented in a general plenary session. Topics discussed in the working groups were structures of urban governance, delivery of national government functions in counties, structures and mechanisms for inter-governmental relations.
On the third day, there were three working groups focusing on financial resources and management for county governments, management of human resources in counties and functional assignment processes and mechanisms, as well as the functions and resources of urban areas and related operational and legal implications, the successful participation of citizens and the coordination and sequencing of transitional issues.
