Kisumu Governor Professor Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o has come out strongly against a recent proposal by Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang’ to reduce Kenya’s counties from 47 to just 13.
The governor, who served as Kisumu Senator between 2013 and 2017, believes such a move goes against the core principles of devolution. He argued that reducing the number of counties would harm the progress made so far in bringing services closer to the people and empowering local communities.
Nyong’o specifically rejected remarks made by Kajwang’ during a public meeting in Homa Bay, where the senator described the current 47-county system as “unsustainable.”
The governor dismissed Kajwang’s argument, saying it is based too heavily on numbers without looking at the bigger picture of why devolution was introduced in the first place. According to Nyong’o, focusing only on financial figures and cost-cutting is not the right way to assess the value of counties in Kenya’s governance.
In a strongly worded statement dated April 23, Nyong’o referred to Kajwang’s comments as a “knee-jerk reaction of an accountant mesmerised by the game of easy calculation of figures.”
He reminded Kenyans that the number of counties was not decided overnight but came after serious national dialogue and constitutional debate.
Changing the structure now without similar engagement would be a mistake, he warned. Nyong’o urged Senator Kajwang’ to instead initiate a wider national discussion involving experts, leaders, and citizens from different backgrounds.
He emphasized the importance of gathering input from various schools of thought before pushing for any changes to the system of devolution.
In his view, only through open and inclusive dialogue can the country make sound decisions about its governance.He made it clear that he supports the current model of 47 counties.
However, he acknowledged that there is always room for improvement.
Rather than scrapping the existing framework, Nyong’o called for a fair assessment of what devolution has achieved so far and what can still be improved. He said it is better to identify areas where the system has fallen short and find ways to strengthen it, rather than tear it down entirely.On the other hand, Kajwang’s proposal has received mixed reactions. Some political figures and governance analysts view it as a bold suggestion worth exploring, especially in light of rising government spending and inefficiencies. They agree with Kajwang’ that the cost of running 47 counties is high and needs to be addressed urgently.Kajwang’ argued that the current devolved system, while noble in purpose, is bloated and expensive to maintain. He believes reducing the number of counties would help streamline service delivery and ensure better use of public resources. According to him, the goal should be to create a leaner, more efficient structure that still delivers services to the people effectively.As the debate continues, it is clear that any changes to the current county structure will need careful thought, widespread consultation, and respect for the spirit of Kenya’s Constitution. For now, leaders like Nyong’o are urging caution and asking that the country not be too quick to dismantle a system that many fought hard to create.
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