National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has criticized Kenya’s current devolved system, advocating for a reduction in the number of counties from 47 to a maximum of 14.
According to Mbadi, the existing county structure is financially unsustainable due to the soaring wage bill.
Mbadi highlighted the inefficiencies in county administrations, arguing that excessive staffing and unnecessary roles have burdened the government.
He pointed out that counties employ numerous directors in various sectors, including fisheries, boda bodas, music, and culture—positions with high salaries and deputies.
“Each county operates like an independent government, with a governor, deputy, and multiple executives. Most have 10 ministers, chief officers, and large county assemblies, making the system costly,” Mbadi remarked.
Did you read this?
When asked by host Jeff Koinange whether he would support a return to Kenya’s previous eight-province system, Mbadi responded that reverting to the old structure or adopting a maximum of 14 administrative units would be more practical. He cited Rift Valley and Eastern Province as regions that could have been split into multiple units under a revised system.
Mbadi further explained that Kenya’s wage bill is unsustainable, with Ksh.80 billion spent monthly on salaries at the national level, totaling nearly Ksh.1 trillion annually. Additionally, loan repayments consume Ksh.1.1 trillion of the Ksh.2.5 trillion in government revenue, leaving little for development projects.
He urged Kenyans to reconsider the current devolution model, advocating for streamlined governance that prioritizes resource allocation over bloated administrations.
