The 2010 Kenyan constitution introduced devolved governance through county government, creating Taita-Taveta County in 2013. This shift has fundamentally altered how the Taita Hills community is governed and how local resources are managed.
The 2013 Transition
The devolution process created Taita-Taveta County, uniting the Taita Hills with surrounding lowland areas under a single county government. This required building new institutions, including a county assembly, county executive, and county civil service. Wundanyi, located in the hills, became the county headquarters.
County Government Structure
Taita-Taveta County has an elected governor, deputy governor, and county assembly representatives. These officials make decisions about budget allocation, service delivery, and county policy. The county government has responsibility for primary education, health services (at county level), water, and other local services.
Resource Allocation and Development
County government has allowed for more locally responsive resource allocation. Development projects prioritized by the Taita Hills community, such as roads, water systems, and schools, can now be decided more directly by local representatives rather than through the national government bureaucracy.
Challenges and Tensions
The devolved system has also created new challenges, including questions about resource distribution between the hills (where most Taita live) and the lowlands (where other communities live), and concerns about the capacity and accountability of county government.
Inter-County Relations
Taita-Taveta County's governance must navigate relationships with neighboring counties, particularly regarding shared resources like water and wildlife. The Tsavo parks and other resources cross county boundaries, requiring inter-county cooperation.
Contemporary Governance
Since 2013, county elections have occurred (most recently in 2022), with multiple candidates competing for both gubernatorial and assembly positions. County governance has become the primary arena for local political competition and resource distribution.
See Also
- Taita-Taveta County
- Taita in National Politics
- Taita Land Rights
- Taita Hills Climate Change
- Taita Identity Today
Sources
- Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. "County Statistical Abstracts 2019". Government of Kenya, 2019. https://www.knbs.or.ke/
- Taita-Taveta County Government. "County Integrated Development Plan 2022-2027". https://taitataveta.go.ke/
- Lindemann, Stefan. "How Local Politics Shapes Institutional Outcomes in County Governments: Evidence from Kenya". Journal of Eastern African Studies, 2019. https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rjea20