The proposal to have Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya as the Chairman of Council of Governors(CoG) will go along way in reviving the hope of Kenyans on devolution. Mvurya, who has just been reelected under Jubilee Party in an area perceived to be ODM stronghold has been cooperating well on developmental matters with the national government.
For almost 5 years, the Governors' body has been embroiled in a tag of war with the national government. Indeed, opposition leader Raila Odinga has been using, misusing and abusing CoG for his own political milage; often using its chairmen to create an erroneous notion that the national government is against devolution.
Indeed, two former chairmen of CoG, Isaac Ruto and Peter Munya, lost their seats following their constant fights with the national government against the wishes of their electorates.
It must be stated that County Governments are not independent States, but units of governance created to devolve services closer to the people. The success of devolution ostensibly depends on close cooperation between the two levels of governments.
With the defeat of Raila Odinga and his heavy loses in both the Senate and the National Assembly, Kenyans are set to enjoy uninterrupted development agenda free from the usual rivalry that existed between Governors versus Members of Parliament, Governors versus the Senators and Governors versus the national government.
Moreover, the likely take over of Council of Governors chairmanship by Mr Mvurya will foster a good relationship with the national government, resulting in Kenyans enjoying the real fruits of devolution devoid of unnecessary political fracas. Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok, a close ally of Mr Odinga is the current chairman of CoG.
Raila Odinga has his political wings clipped and he will no longer use CoG as his political wagon to spread devolution lies.