Deputy President William Ruto has insisted that County assemblies hold a very special place and role in the success of devolution. Speaking during the County Assemblies Sports Association (CASA) games in Uasin Gishu County on Monday, DP Ruto termed devolution as the biggest achievement of the government, ‘We as the national government we recognize the place of our County assemblies in ensuring the biggest achievement of our new constitution, the devolved system of government is secured, promoted and succeeds. We are very clear in our mind that without County assemblies our devolved system of government is in danger.”
He said the Members of County Assemblies occupy a central role in ensuring devolution is a success, evidenced through their oversight role, their legislation at the Counties, “You stand in a place that will determine whether we move forward or whether we move backward as a country because devolution occupies a very central role and very central place in us moving forward as a country,” he said.
He has urged critics of devolution to be patient since it has only been seven years since the ball was set rolling. He noted that things will finally come of age and fall into place, and that at the moment some issues are still being sorted out. He said MCAs shouldn’t be compared to MPs, because they are doing things they are sued to, while MCAs are trying out many things for the first time once they are elected, “Therefore your critics should be patient with you, you will learn with time and we will correct the many or few faults that are there with time.”