Audio By VocalizeAbsentee governors betray devolution dream. However, in far too many counties especially in the ASAL region, the dream has been hijacked by absentee governors who have turned public office into a remote-control enterprise. Billions have flowed to counties since advent of devolution with ASAL counties, in particular, have received equalisation funds and generous allocations precisely because they started from behind. In ASAL regions, children already battle harsh climates, food insecurity and vast distances to school. Every misallocated shilling steals from a girl who needs a scholarship, from a pastoralist family that needs water infrastructure, from a health centre that needs a nurse.

Source: Standard Digital February 21, 2026 06:41 UTC