The welfare and effectiveness of Deputy Governors across Kenya has taken center stage after Edwin Sifuna raised alarm in the Senate over what he described as the growing marginalization of the office in several counties.
Speaking during a plenary session at Bunge Tower on Tuesday, the Nairobi County Senator urged lawmakers to urgently address the challenges facing Deputy Governors, warning that the office risks being rendered ineffective if the trend continues.
Sifuna noted that the Constitution deliberately established the Deputy Governor position to guarantee continuity in county leadership and to support Governors in delivering services under Kenya’s devolved system.
“The office of Deputy Governor was created to support the Governor and ensure continuity of executive authority in counties,” Sifuna told the Senate. “Unfortunately, in many counties the office has been reduced to a peripheral role.”
According to the senator, reports from various counties indicate that some Deputy Governors are being denied official vehicles, stripped of functional offices, or blocked from accessing budgets needed to run their operations. In certain cases, he said, the conditions have made it nearly impossible for them to effectively execute their constitutional mandate.
“This situation undermines the spirit of the Constitution and weakens the system of devolution,” Sifuna warned. “Deputy Governors should not operate at the mercy of Governors.”
The senator urged Parliament to fast-track the County Government Laws (Amendment) Bill, legislation aimed at clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of Deputy Governors. The bill also seeks to provide legal safeguards to ensure the office is respected and adequately facilitated.
“We must accelerate the passage of this Bill to give legal backing and protection to the office,” Sifuna said. “Without clear statutory support, the office risks remaining a symbol of humiliation and neglect.”
He further called on the Senate to initiate a nationwide inquiry into the working conditions and welfare of Deputy Governors, arguing that the House has a constitutional oversight role in safeguarding devolution.
“The Senate must investigate these concerns and ensure the office of Deputy Governor functions as intended under the Constitution,” Sifuna said.
He cautioned that failure to address the issue could erode the gains made under devolution and ultimately affect service delivery to citizens across the country.
Reacting to the debate, William Oduol welcomed the sentiments raised in the Senate, describing them as a timely intervention in defending the integrity of the office of Deputy Governor.
“I welcome the sentiments raised on the need to safeguard the Office of the Deputy Governor,” Dr. Oduol said.
The Siaya Deputy Governor emphasized that the Constitution created the office not as a ceremonial position but as a critical pillar in ensuring continuity, stability, and effective governance within counties.
“The Constitution created this office to guarantee continuity, stability, and effective service delivery in our counties,” he said.
Dr. Oduol added that when Deputy Governors are denied the institutional support necessary to discharge their duties, the ultimate losers are citizens who depend on county governments for services.
“When Deputy Governors are denied the tools necessary to perform their duties, it is not individuals who suffer — it is the people we serve,” he noted.
He concluded by stressing that strengthening the office is essential to protecting Kenya’s devolved system of governance.
“Strengthening this office is strengthening devolution.”
