Political Economy and the Local Governance in Kenya during the Pre - August 2010 Constitution: A Synoptic Review

Abstract

This paper explores how changing economic circumstances have affected performance of the government, in terms of governance, during the pre-August 2010 Constitutional dispensation. Further, the review introduces issues of politics and their influence in the running of local authorities. It also examines the various attempts by the government to strengthen local authorities by distributing its functions and service delivery through decentralization policies. The paper notes that changing economic landscape has in part affected local governance. It also indicates that decentralized government operations have been hampered by suspicion from the central government about the likelihood of losing its central control/legitimacy to local authorities.