DG Francis Mwangangi: Strengthen Institutions to Unlock Full Potential of Devolution

Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi has called for urgent and coordinated efforts to address persistent gaps in institutional capacity that continue to hinder the full realization of the benefits of devolution across the country.

Speaking during an exclusive interview on Citizen TV this morning, Mwangangi acknowledged that devolution has brought notable improvements in the delivery of essential services, particularly in health, education, infrastructure, and agriculture. However, he warned that unless deliberate steps are taken to enhance the capacity of institutions mandated to implement devolved functions, the dream of achieving Kenya’s Vision 2030 may remain elusive.

“Devolution has transformed communities, empowered counties, and brought government closer to the people. But we must confront the reality that many of our institutions still lack the technical capacity, systems, and resources to meet the growing demands of a devolved governance structure,” he stated.

Mwangangi emphasized that institutional inefficiencies—ranging from weak policy frameworks, inadequate staffing, lack of training, and limited financial management skills—continue to undermine service delivery and development progress in many counties.

He therefore urged the national government, development partners, private sector players, and civil society organizations to work collaboratively in supporting capacity-building initiatives targeting county governments, public servants, and key institutions. This, he said, would equip them to function more effectively and efficiently.

“We cannot walk this journey alone as counties. The success of devolution is a shared responsibility. The national government must come in with technical support, while development partners and other stakeholders must invest more in training, systems development, and innovation at the county level,” he added.

The Deputy Governor further stressed the need for continuous professional development, digitization of services, and adoption of modern governance tools that promote transparency, accountability, and data-driven decision-making in county operations.

He reiterated Machakos County’s commitment to strengthening internal systems and partnerships as part of its development strategy. He said counties must not only deliver on their constitutional mandates but also be proactive in preparing for the future.

“As a country, if we are serious about achieving Vision 2030—a prosperous, globally competitive Kenya—then we must invest in building institutions that work, and that starts now,” Mwangangi concluded.

His remarks come at a time when various assessments by policy think tanks and governance watchdogs have pointed to institutional weaknesses as one of the leading challenges facing devolution, despite the model being in operation for over a decade since the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution.