UK gives financial backing to Kenya’s devolution drive

18 Nov 15

Local government reforms in Kenya are to receive $23.5m in support from the UK government.

Following 2010 constitutional reforms, Kenya is undergoing a rapid and ambitious devolution programme in the world. Decentralisation began in March 2013 with the election of county governors and assemblies, and the country has been building a new set of local governments from scratch ever since.

Lisa Phillips, head of the Department for International Development in Kenya, said: “The UK believes devolution holds great promise for Kenya. The potential benefits of having government closer to the people can only be achieved if county governments can better manage resources and better engage citizens in order to deliver on the devolution promise.”

Through the Kenya Devolution Support Programme (KDSP), DFID will work with partners to improve county government planning, budgeting, human resource management and citizen management. It will develop sustainable systems while ensuring the continued delivery of basic services, and will entail a special focus on women, youth and climate mitigation.

It will do this via the provision of training, support for experts in numerous counties and support in the development and implementation of performance management systems.

As part of the Kenya’s National Capacity Building Framework, the KDSP will be delivered through existing devolution support programmes from the World Bank, American development agency USAID and the United Nations Development Programme. 

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