Mbadi: 47 Counties are too many, straining government finances

National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has called for a review of Kenya’s devolved system, arguing that the current 47 counties are unsustainable due to rising government expenses.

Speaking on Wednesday during Citizen TV’s JKLive Show, Mbadi suggested that the country should revert to the former eight provinces or a maximum of 14 administrative units.

The CS pointed out that maintaining the 47 counties has strained government resources, particularly due to an increasing wage bill. He noted that excessive hiring at the county level has led to inefficiencies and mismanagement of funds.

“You go to counties and you will find all kinds of staff, you find directors of fishermen, boda bodas, music, culture directors earning big salaries, with deputies, we have so many people. Again, that is notwithstanding the fact that 47 counties are just too much for a country,” he said.

Mbadi argued that each county operates as a mini-government, complete with a governor, deputy governor, and numerous executive positions, leading to unnecessary expenses.

“47 counties each one with full-fledged government, a governor who is the mini president with a deputy who is running mate, and struggling to find work to do, and then you have ministers, all of them went for 10 which is the maximum, we have Chief Officers, more than 10, and then we have county assemblies," he added.

His remarks came in response to a question from show host Jeff Koinange, who asked whether he would support a return to the former eight provinces.

In his reply, CS Mbadi maintained that reducing the number of administrative units would help address the country’s financial crisis while ensuring resources are properly distributed at the grassroots level.

“I would go for a maximum of 14. There were 8 provinces but if you look at Rift Valley, it was like two-three provinces combined and also the Eastern province,” he said.

“I would go for a maximum of 14 but even 8 would still serve us perfectly well, with devolution of resources going to the grassroots. We can devolve resources without devolving the heavy government to the grassroots. It is unsustainable," Mbadi added.

The CS further explained that the formation of the 47 counties led to more legislative subdivisions, including additional sub-counties and wards, which have contributed to rising costs.

“We have a very expensive government. Today we are paying Ksh.80 billion per month at the national government level for salaries. Per year it is Ksh.960 billion, it is going to a trillion and we are collecting Ksh.2.5 trillion and we are spending on loan repayment about Ksh.1.1 trillion so where do you get money for development?” Mbadi posed.

He also reflected on Kenya’s past governance structures, noting that earlier forms of devolution had fewer regional governments and assemblies compared to the current system.

He urged Kenyans to rethink whether the current form of devolution is truly effective.

“In the old days when we first had the Majimbo Constitution we had regional governments and assemblies a bit fewer compared to today. Kenyans should get into a conversation whether this is the type of devolution that we need?" he continued.

"No, we needed resources to be devolved not too much government. We have so many MCAs, and Kenyans have been electing very few women and we have also given ourselves a constitution where we are saying not less than two-thirds should be of the same gender, so now we end up nominating so many people.”

Mbadi’s remarks are expected to spark debate on whether Kenya should restructure its devolved system to ease financial pressures on the govern.