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Exporting a Nation: Why Kenya's Best and Brightest Are Leaving

For generations, migration was seen as a personal choice. Some left for adventure, others for education, and a few in pursuit of better opportunities abroad. Today, something more profound is happening in Kenya. Leaving has become an aspiration. Ask university students what they want after graduation. Ask young doctors completing their internships. Ask software developers, engineers, lecturers and accountants. Increasingly, the answer is remarkably similar: they want out. The dream is no longer to build a life in Kenya. The dream is to escape it. That should trouble us far more than it does. Because when a country reaches a point where its most educated and ambitious citizens increasingly see their futures elsewhere, it is not merely experiencing migration. It is exporting itself. The Great Kenyan Checkout There is nothing unusual about human mobility. People have moved in search of opportunity for centuries. What is unusual is the scale and normalisation of departure. Today, stories o...

Devolution Under Threat: Council of Governors Raises Alarm


The Kenya Council of Governors has issued a stark warning, asserting that the nation's devolution system is encountering a grave peril emanating from the Executive. Devolution, a cornerstone of Kenya's governance structure since its inception in 2010, is facing unprecedented challenges, according to the council.

The council, representing the 47 counties of Kenya, has voiced concerns over what it perceives as systematic attempts by the executive to undermine the autonomy and effectiveness of devolved units. Such encroachments, if left unchecked, could erode the gains made in decentralising power and resources, threatening the very foundation of devolution.

Among the grievances highlighted by the council are delays in disbursing funds to the counties, arbitrary interventions in local governance affairs, and the imposition of directives without consultation or consideration of local needs. These actions, the council contends, not only weaken the ability of counties to deliver essential services but also jeopardise the principles of democratic governance and citizen participation enshrined in the Constitution.

The warning from the Council of Governors comes at a critical juncture for Kenya, as the country grapples with a myriad of socio-economic challenges. Devolution, with its promise of bringing government closer to the people and fostering equitable development across regions, is now more indispensable than ever.

In response to the council's alarm, stakeholders, including civil society organisations and the public, are calling for urgent dialogue and concrete actions to safeguard the integrity of devolution. They emphasise the need for mutual respect between the national and county governments, adherence to constitutional principles, and the promotion of a collaborative approach to governance.

As Kenya navigates these turbulent times, the preservation of devolution stands as a litmus test for the country's commitment to democratic ideals and inclusive development. The challenge now lies in translating rhetoric into action, ensuring that the promises of devolution are upheld for the prosperity and well-being of all Kenyans.



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