The Senate has peeled back the mask on devolution, revealing a deliberate plot by Governors to kill urbanization in its cradle. A scathing report by the Senate Committee on Devolution has flagged a majority of the 47 counties for failing to operationalize municipalities, effectively turning urban centers into glorified villages.

Committee Chairperson Senator Godfrey Osotsi did not mince his words. He accused County bosses of refusing to grant financial autonomy to Municipal Boards, fearing that empowered urban centers would become rival power bases. As a result, billions of shillings in World Bank urban support grants (KUSP) are at risk of being lost.

The Big Village Mentality

"You cannot run a city like a cattle dip," Osotsi declared. "The Urban Areas and Cities Act is clear. Municipalities must have their own votes, their own boards, and their own budgets. What we have now are Governors who want to micromanage garbage collection in every market to control tenders."

The report details how Boards in counties like Vihiga, Kisii, and Machakos exist only on paper. They lack offices, staff, and the authority to levy taxes or plan infrastructure. This suffocation has led to the chaotic growth of towns, with unplanned buildings and open sewers becoming the norm.

• The Legal Breach: The failure to confer city or municipal status is a direct violation of the law. Counties are legally obligated to upgrade towns that meet population thresholds, but they are dragging their feet to retain centralized control of revenue.
• Lost Opportunities: Donors are freezing funds. Why give money for urban resilience to a town that doesn't legally exist? The Senate warned that counties that do not comply will be barred from receiving conditional grants.
• The Governor’s Defense: The Council of Governors argues that the wage bill is already too high to hire separate municipal staff. Osotsi dismissed this as an excuse for hoarding power.

Urbanizing in Reverse

Kenya is urbanizing at a rate of 4% annually, but its governance is stuck in the past. By denying towns their autonomy, Governors are creating urban slums rather than economic hubs. The Senate’s ultimatum is clear: devolve power to the towns, or face sanctions. For the residents of these "dead cities," the autonomy cannot come soon enough.