Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o Slams President Ruto Over Devolution, Accuses Him of Power Grab
Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o has strongly criticized President William Ruto, accusing him of undermining Kenya’s system of devolution.
In a strongly worded letter issued on Tuesday, April 22, Nyong’o said the president was attempting to weaken county governments by interfering with their roles—particularly in the management of the Roads Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF).
The dispute centers on who should control the RMLF, a fund collected from fuel levies and intended for road maintenance.
While President Ruto wants it to be managed by the national government, Nyong’o insists that this move is against the spirit of devolution and the Constitution.
In his letter, Governor Nyong’o criticized Ruto’s support for national roads agencies such as the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA).
He argued that these agencies are unnecessary if devolution is respected and fully implemented.
“If the national government is truly committed to devolution, then KURA and KeRRA have no reason to exist,” Nyong’o stated firmly.
He argued that their continued presence creates overlap and confusion between the roles of national and county governments.
Just days earlier, during an Easter Sunday service in Ntulele, Narok County, President Ruto said that placing road maintenance under the national government would eliminate confusion and help ensure better use of public funds.
He promised better infrastructure and long-term development results if the funds were centralized.
But Nyong’o responded with fierce criticism, accusing the president of trying to roll back the gains made since the adoption of the 2010 Constitution.
He compared Ruto’s move to the centralized power model of the Nyayo era, a period before devolution when the national government controlled nearly all public services.
“The truth is that the Ruto administration wants to take Kenya back to the pre-devolution days,” Nyong’o warned. “For them, the Constitution is a roadblock to their greed and desire to control resources unfairly.”
The governor also pointed out problems at Kenyatta National Hospital as an example of how poorly the national government manages public institutions.
He used this to argue that giving the national government more control—such as over road funds—would only lead to inefficiency and waste.
The conflict over the RMLF has been ongoing for months. Tensions rose in March when county governors refused to drop a court case against Members of Parliament over who should control the fund.
Governors insist that since they are directly involved in building and maintaining roads, they deserve a fair share of the RMLF.
They also argue that the fund comes from fuel taxes paid by all Kenyans, not just those in areas managed by the national government.
Therefore, counties should have equal rights in deciding how the money is used.
At the center of this ongoing debate is the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Roads, Infrastructure, and Energy.
Though often overlooked, this committee plays a crucial role in how billions of shillings in road funding are allocated every year.
The committee reviews proposals from national agencies such as KeNHA, KURA, and KeRRA.
It also recommends how the RMLF should be distributed, monitors the use of the funds, and investigates cases of corruption or delays in road projects.
Ultimately, this committee has significant power over how road money is spent. While the public often pays attention to agencies and political leaders, it is this parliamentary body that shapes the financial direction of road development in Kenya.
The central question remains: Should counties be trusted with more funds and responsibilities in road construction and maintenance, or should the national government have full control in the name of “efficiency”?
President Ruto argues for centralization, while Governor Nyong’o and other county leaders believe that true devolution means empowering counties—not weakening them.
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