Furious Nyong’o Accuses Ruto Regime of Waging War on Devolution
Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o has launched a fierce rebuke against President William Ruto, accusing him of sabotaging devolution through actions he claims are undermining the spirit of Kenya’s 2010 Constitution.
In a strongly worded letter released on Tuesday, April 22, Nyong’o criticized the President’s stance on the ongoing battle between county governments and the national administration regarding the management of the Roads Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF).
The President has recently pushed for the RMLF to be placed under the national government’s jurisdiction. However, Nyong’o argues that this move would reverse the gains made in devolved governance and centralize power in Nairobi.
According to Nyong’o, Ruto’s continued support for national road agencies like the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KERA) goes against the spirit and letter of devolution.
“KURA and KERA need not exist if the national government is truly committed to implementing devolution,” Nyong’o stated.
The controversy began to boil over after Ruto’s comments during an Easter Sunday church service in Ntulele, Narok County. There, he defended his administration’s intention to take control of road maintenance funds, arguing that doing so would eliminate overlapping responsibilities and lead to better resource management.
The President also emphasized that national oversight would fast-track infrastructure development and deliver long-term benefits to the country.
But Governor Nyong’o didn’t hold back. He described the move as a deliberate attempt to centralize power and ignore constitutional provisions. In his view, Ruto’s actions resemble the governance style of past regimes, particularly that of former President Daniel arap Moi.
“This regime is trying to roll back the clock to pre-devolution Nyayo-era politics,” Nyong’o declared. “They view the 2010 Constitution not as a guide but as an obstacle to their agenda of unchecked accumulation.”
Follow Us on Facebook
Nyong’o also dismissed the claim that road development would be more efficient under national control. Instead, he warned that marginalizing county governments would only breed inefficiencies and corruption.
He challenged the Ruto administration to uphold the law and let devolution work as intended by the people of Kenya in the 2010 referendum.
Devolution, Nyong’o added, was never about convenience—it was about ensuring local autonomy, accountability, and equitable distribution of national resources.
The governor’s attack adds fuel to a growing national conversation on whether the government is genuinely committed to decentralization or merely paying lip service while clawing back powers from the counties.
This isn’t the first time tensions between county leaders and the national government have surfaced, but Nyong’o’s public letter marks one of the most direct and fiery confrontations in recent months.
Observers believe this standoff could deepen unless there’s consensus or mediation on how resources like the RMLF should be handled in the spirit of cooperative governance.
As Kenya continues to navigate the complexities of its devolved structure, the balance between national control and county autonomy remains a delicate, and now highly contested, matter.
More News: George Natembeya Cautions President Ruto Against Dismissing Mudavadi and Wetangula
Furious Nyong’o Accuses Ruto Regime of Waging War on Devolution
