Influence of Decentralized Units in Enhancing Democratic Governance Process in Kenya
Keywords:
Decentralized Units, Democratic Governance, KenyaAbstract
Devolution framework in Kenya is anchored in article 174 of the Constitution which espouses the relationships where political, administrative and fiscal power is distributed to semi-autonomous territorial and sub-national units which seek to promote accountability, transparency, responsiveness and legitimacy in a state. For this to be achieved, the devolution framework borrows heavily on the objects of the Kenyan devolution framework to select key indicators like devolved units to measure the relationship between the devolution framework and democratic governance indicators. The devolution framework in Kenya promised a structural architecture of power relations that engenders democratic governance tenets of transparency, accountability and open governance. The objective of the study was to establish the influence of decentralized units on enhancing democratic governance. The study adopted descriptive and correlation research design. All the forty-seven (47) counties in Kenya were targeted, with five officers per counties forming the sample frame. Regression models were used to examine the influence of the devolution framework on democratic governance in Kenya. The study found that there was a positive relationship between decentralized units and democratic governance. This study addresses the existing knowledge gap by determining the effect of decentralised units on democratic governance process in Kenya is not direct but rather is through devolved units. The findings of this study therefore have implications for theory, practice and policy. The study recommends need to strengthen institutions and resource mobilization to the devolved units.
Keywords: Decentralized Units, Democratic Governance, Kenya
References
Fraser, N. (1990). Rethinking the public sphere: A contribution to the critique of actually existing democracy. Social Text, 25/26, 56-80.
Kibua,T.& Mapesa, B.(2010). ‘Management and utilization of Constituency Development Funds in Kenya’ in Kibua TN & Mwabu G (eds) Decentralization and Devolution in Kenya: New Approaches Nairobi: University of Nairobi Press.
Kim et al. (2005). Toward participatory and transparent governance: Report on the Sixth Global Forum on Government. Public Administration Review 65(6): 646–653.
Kimenyi, S. Mwangi & Meagher, P., (2004). ‘General Introduction. In Kimenyi, S. Mwangi & Meagher,’ Devolution and development: Governance Prospects in decentralising states. Hants: Ashgate Publishing Ltd., Ch 1, (ed.).
Litvack Ahmad J. J. Ahmad & Bird R., (1998). “Rethinking Decentralisation in Developing Countries”, World Bank Sector Studies Paper 21491, Washington D.C.: World Bank,
Martinez – Vazquez J. & McNab R.M., (2003). “Fiscal Decentralisation and Economic Growth”, World Development, No. 31(9), 1597–1616.
Martinez – Vazquez J. & McNab R.M., (2005). “Fiscal Decentralisation, Macro - stability and Growth”, International Studies Program Working Paper 0506, Georgia State University: Andrew Young School of Policy Studies.
Michels A. and De Graaf L (2010). Examining citizen participation: Local participatory policy making and democracy. Local Government Studies 36(4): 477–491.
Mitnick, Barry M. 1980. The Political Economy of Regulation. New York: Columbia University Press.
Montero, A. (2001). “Decentralizing democracy: Spain and Brazil in Comparative Perspective” Comparative Politics 33 149-172.
Montero, A. (2002). “Decentralizing democracy: Spain and Brazil in Comparative Perspective” Comparative Politics 33 149-172.
Muia, D.M., (2008). ‘Devolution: Which Way for Local Authorities? In Kibua, T. N. and Mwabu, G.,’ Decentralisation and Devolution in Kenya: New Approaches. Nairobi: University of Nairobi Press, pp.137–168, (eds.),
Mwenda, A., ‘Introduction’ in IEA Devolution in Kenya: Prospects, Challenges and the Future, IEA Research.
Ndegwa, D. (1972). Walking in Kenyatta Struggles, Nairobi: Kenya Leadership Institute, 2006. Oates, Wallace E., Fiscal federalism, New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich,
Oloo A. (2008). ‘Devolution and democratic governance: Options for Kenya’ in Kibua TN & Mwabu G (eds) Decentralization and Devolution in Kenya: New Approaches Nairobi: University of Nairobi Press 105-136.
Omiya S. (2000). Citizen participation in Kenya. In: Decentralisation and Citizen Participation in Africa, Regional Development Dialogue, (RDD). Vol. 21(1). Nayoga, Japan: United Nations.
Prud’homme R.,(1995) “The Dangers of Decentralisation”, World Bank Research Observer, No. 10(2).
Rodden J., (2003). “Bailouts and Perverse Incentives in the Brazilian States”, in Rodden J., Eskeland G. and Litvack J. (Eds.), Fiscal Decentralisation and the Challenge of Hard Budget Constraints, Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press.
Roderiguez V.(1997). Decentralisation in Mexico: From Reforma Municipal to Solidaridad to Nuevo Federalismo. Boudler, CO: Westview Press.
Thiessen U., (2003). “Fiscal Decentralisation and Economic Growth in High Income OECD Countries”, Fiscal Studies, No. 24(3), 237–274.
True, J. Jones, B. D., & Baumgartner, F. R. (1999). Punctuated-equilibrium theory. In P. A. Sabatier.
Valdivia, W. (2011). The stakes in Bayh-Dole: Public values beyond the pace of innovation. Minerva, 49, 25-46.
Vazquez, A.(1999). “Inward Investment and Endogenous Development: The Convergence of the Strategies of Large Firms and Territories”, Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, No. 11, 63–79.
