For decades, Mandera was the forgotten corner of Kenya—a place defined by distance, drought, and insecurity. But 13 years into devolution, a quiet revolution is taking root in the arid north. A new report by the Agency for Local Integration (ALIO) highlights Mandera as a case study of how decentralized power can reverse historical marginalization.

The county, once synonymous with tarmac-free roads and maternal mortality, now boasts the first tarmac road in its history and a referral hospital that performs complex surgeries. The "Mandera Miracle" is driven by the Equalization Fund and local control over resources, allowing priorities to be set by those who wear the shoe.

Closing the Gap

"Devolution didn't just bring money; it brought dignity," says local activist Ahmed Ali. "We no longer have to beg Nairobi for a borehole. We build it." The report notes a significant drop in maternal deaths, attributed to the construction of maternity wings in every sub-county.

However, challenges persist. Inter-clan conflict and the threat of Al-Shabaab along the porous Somalia border continue to spook investors. Education standards also lag behind the national average, a gap the county government is trying to plug with a KES 350 million bursary fund.

• Water Security: The county has invested heavily in water pans and solar-powered boreholes, reducing the distance women walk in search of water.
• The Future: The report calls for a review of the revenue-sharing formula to give more weight to land mass and poverty indices, arguing that counties like Mandera need "affirmative finance" to catch up with the rest of Kenya.