Cha-cha
A storm is brewing in Kenya’s political landscape as a growing number of county governors have come out strongly against President William Ruto, accusing him of orchestrating a dangerous rift between Parliament and county governments.
In a heated joint statement issued earlier today by the Council of Governors (CoG), several county heads decried what they termed as “deliberate sabotage” by the national executive to weaken devolution. The governors pointed fingers at Ruto’s recent push in Parliament to reallocate key budget lines traditionally managed by counties—an action they say undermines the spirit of the Constitution.
“We are seeing a calculated move to cripple counties by using Parliament as a blunt tool,” said CoG Chairperson and Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru. “This is not just an attack on devolved units—it is an attack on the people of Kenya who depend on these services.”
The accusations come amid heated debates over the 2025/2026 budget proposals, with several county-level functions—especially in healthcare, agriculture, and infrastructure—allegedly being reassigned to national bodies under the guise of “efficiency reforms.”
Sources within the CoG revealed that some governors are considering legal action if the proposed changes are passed, warning of a possible constitutional crisis.
“The President is trying to centralize power by using Parliament as a shield. That’s not democracy. That’s dictatorship by legislation,” said Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, who called for mass civic action if the trend continues.
The backlash has ignited public discourse on social media, with the hashtag #HandsOffDevolution trending nationwide as citizens rally behind their county leaders.
Kenyans online expressed outrage at the potential rollback of devolution gains, warning that such power plays risk taking the country back to the days of centralized marginalization.
“We fought too hard for devolution to let it slip through parliamentary tricks,” posted one user on X (formerly Twitter). “Ruto must respect the Constitution.”
Political analysts warn that this standoff could deepen existing political cracks, especially as counties prepare for the upcoming revenue-sharing debates in June.
Whether this turns into a full-blown legal and political war remains to be seen—but one thing is clear: the battle lines between State House and the county governments have been drawn.
What do YOU think? Is President Ruto protecting national interest—or is he undermining counties for political gain? Sound off in the comments below.
Wamuzi News Ke
