Lamu County was created in 2013 following Kenya's constitutional devolution, which redistributed governmental authority from the national government to 47 newly created counties. Devolution brought significant changes to governance structure, service delivery, and development planning in Lamu, with mixed results.
Prior to devolution, Lamu was administered as a district within the Coast Province, governed by a centrally-appointed district commissioner and national government structures. Local authorities had limited autonomy, and development decisions were made by the national government. Devolution moved considerable governance authority to the local level.
The County government structure includes a County Governor (elected to five-year terms, with a maximum of two terms) who serves as the chief executive. The Governor appoints a cabinet (County Executive Committee) to manage specific functions (Finance, Health, Education, Land, Public Works, etc.). A County Assembly (with elected representatives from electoral wards) provides oversight and passes county legislation. The county also retains traditional authority structures (clan leaders, Islamic courts, etc.) that operate parallel to formal government.
Lamu has had two governors since devolution: Ali Kolela (2013-2017) and Mohamed Ali Mohamed (2017-present, as of 2024). Governors face significant expectations to deliver services and development, but constrained by limited resources and external pressures (like LAPSSET, which is nationally driven but affects Lamu directly).
County government responsibilities include primary education, health services, local infrastructure (roads, water, sanitation), agriculture, and county economic development. National government retains responsibility for national security, national infrastructure, and national-level education (secondary and higher). This division of labor has created coordination challenges: a road that connects to a national highway is partly county responsibility and partly national responsibility, sometimes creating maintenance gaps.
Devolution introduced new accountability structures. County Governments were expected to pass annual budgets, conduct public participation (input on budget priorities), and submit to financial audits. These requirements represented increased transparency compared to the previous system. However, implementation of accountability mechanisms has been inconsistent. Public participation in budget planning is sometimes nominal. Corruption and mismanagement of county resources have been documented.
Financial independence of counties was intended but has not been fully realized. Counties receive most of their revenue from the national government (through a revenue-sharing formula) rather than from local revenue collection. This dependency constrains county autonomy. Lamu's tax base is small, limiting locally-generated revenue. County budgets are often insufficient to meet all demands for services and development.
Service delivery has improved in some areas since devolution. County governments have invested in health and education infrastructure. Water supply projects have been implemented. However, progress is uneven, and some services remain inadequate.
County-national government relations are complex and sometimes contentious. The LAPSSET port is a national project that directly affects Lamu communities, but implementation decisions are made at the national level with limited meaningful input from the county government or communities. Land acquisition for the port raised questions about county authority and community consultation.
County-community relations involve varying degrees of engagement. Some community members participate actively in county affairs through county assembly sittings, public meetings, and advocacy. Others feel disconnected from county government, particularly people in remote areas or those who do not speak Swahili fluently. Women's participation in county governance is increasing, partly due to constitutional gender quotas, but remains limited in practical decision-making.
Electoral politics at the county level involve competition between political parties, clans, and individuals. Elections have generally been conducted peacefully, though political tensions can be high. Clan affiliations sometimes influence voting behavior, creating dynamics that complicate national party politics at the local level.
Inter-county relations exist, as Lamu's development is affected by neighboring counties (Mombasa, Kilifi). Resource-sharing arrangements (sharing of port facilities, management of shared coastal resources) create both cooperation and potential conflict with neighboring jurisdictions.
Devolution has not dramatically transformed Lamu's development trajectory. The county remains among Kenya's poorest and least-developed. However, devolution has created new opportunities for local voice and decision-making, and county government has invested in local priorities that the national government might have neglected.
See Also
- Lamu Politics
- LAPSSET Lamu
- Lamu Land
- Lamu Infrastructure
- Lamu Education
- Lamu Health
- Lamu Budget and Governance
Sources
- Lamu County Government. "Integrated County Development Plan 2023-2027." (2023).
- Cornell, Agnes. "Devolution in Kenya: The Governance of Governors." (Journal of Eastern African Studies, Vol. 10, No. 2, 2016).
- Kenya County Governments Association. "Devolution in Practice: A Review of County Government Performance." (Annual reports, various years).
- International Crisis Group. "Kenya's Devolution: Progress and Challenges." (Africa Report No. 221, 2015).