Sifuna Speaks Out: Why Kenya’s Biggest Problem Starts at State House

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Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna on Tuesday delivered a pointed critique of governance in Kenya, raising fresh questions about the balance of power between national and devolved institutions.

Speaking during an interview, the outspoken ODM Secretary General painted a picture of a country grappling with deep rooted structural challenges that, in his view, continue to undermine progress.

Sifuna framed his remarks around the persistent struggles facing counties, from delayed disbursement of funds to what he described as excessive interference by national agencies.

He argued that despite the promise of devolution enshrined in the 2010 Constitution, counties remain constrained in their ability to fully deliver services to citizens.

According to the senator, these constraints are not accidental but stem from deliberate policy and administrative choices made at the centre of power.

In a sharp assessment, Sifuna said the national government has emerged as the biggest threat to both democracy and devolution.

He claimed that key decisions affecting counties are increasingly centralized, weakening local governance structures and eroding public trust.

“When resources, authority and accountability are pulled back to the centre, the people suffer,” he told the audience, warning that the spirit of devolution risks being hollowed out.

The Nairobi senator went further to argue that meaningful change cannot be achieved without confronting the role of the executive.

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He asserted that solving Kenya’s long-standing problems requires reforms that begin at State House, including a rethinking of how power is exercised by the presidency.

In his view, an overpowered executive has fostered a culture of impunity, sidelined independent institutions and reduced Parliament and county governments to reactive roles.

Sifuna also linked governance challenges to broader democratic concerns, citing allegations of shrinking civic space, politicisation of state programmes and selective application of the law.

He cautioned that without safeguards, national initiatives meant to uplift citizens could be repurposed for political gain, undermining fairness and accountability.

While his remarks were critical, Sifuna maintained that reform is still possible through constitutionalism, active citizenship and institutional strengthening.

He urged Kenyans to defend devolution as a people driven system designed to bring services closer to communities, not as a concession from the national government.

He also called on leaders across the political divide to put national interest ahead of short term political calculations.