Taita Taveta County: A Tragedy of Failed Devolution and Leadership

Despite the tremendous strides made by other counties in terms of development and restructuring their operations to ensure that devolution works, Taita Taveta county has nothing to be proud of. It is a tragedy that we are lagging behind in terms of progress, and it begs the question, what curse befell us as a county? We had high hopes that under Governor Mwadime’s leadership, things would be different. However, the day-today operations of the county are deteriorating to an abysmal level, and we are left wondering if there is a way out of this predicament. Our health facilities are on the brink of collapse, and the only thing we see happening are weekend celebrations with pilau, while our leaders issue empty threats that intimidate no one. The governor was overrated prior to his election, and now we find ourselves in an even deeper abyss than before. It is a tragedy that the legacy of this county may vanish without a trace, and we will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. We are in the news, but not for anything positive, as we face damning allegations of corruption for misusing funds that were meant to remember the dead and soldiers of WW1. It is likely that we will appear in the news as a county that consumed devolution funds through pilau, while our leaders increase their waistlines at the expense of the poor people of Taita Taveta. This is not what devolution was meant to achieve, and it is a slap in the face of the people who put their trust in the leaders. Actions speak louder than words, and we cannot afford to keep burying our heads in the sand. What sets us apart from other counties, like Kwale, where we see developments and progress? Our neighbors in Makueni County are enjoying the fruits of devolution, and their health system is a benchmark for success. Ours, on the other hand, is a fiasco of epic proportions and an embarrassment beyond words. If other counties can be likened to football teams, ours is just a team of bumbling amateurs. And if it’s food, our county is a foul-tasting gruel that no one wants to eat. In the past seven months, we have witnessed boardroom meetings paraded as investor engagement. However, none of them have been successful, and Taita Taveta county residents are growing tired of the empty rhetoric. We can no longer remain silent when other counties are sponsoring numerous students in secondary education, while we only sponsor a paltry 100. This is an insult to our intelligence and a gross injustice to our youth. Our leaders must do better, and we must hold them accountable. If you scrutinize the county government’s manifesto during the election, you will realize that we embarked on a journey to find bread, but instead, we stumbled upon excrement and returned home empty-handed. It is time to wake up and smell the coffee. We must demand more from our leaders and hold them to a higher standard. We cannot afford to be complacent and watch as our county crumbles before our very eyes. We must rise to the occasion and demand progress and development for the betterment of our county and our people. The future of Taita-Taveta county depends on it.