Kitui County has emerged as a top performer in the Second Kenya Devolution Support Programme (KDSP II), earning a perfect score during the recently concluded verification exercise.
Deputy Governor H.E. Wambua Kanani represented Governor Dr. Julius Malombe, EGH, at the KDSP II Governors’ Sensitisation Programme held in Naivasha, Nakuru County. The event brought together county leadership from across the country to review progress and share best practices in implementing KDSP II reforms.
KDSP II is anchored in the national Devolution Sector Plan and focuses on three Key Result Areas (KRAs):
- Sustainable financing and expenditure management
- Intergovernmental coordination, institutional performance, and human resource management
- Oversight, participation, and accountability
Kitui County was commended for its early preparation and well-coordinated efforts, which ensured a smooth and timely verification process. According to an independent verification analyst, the county met all Minimum Access Conditions for KDSP Year 1, with the final verification taking place on 24th February 2025. Notably, the Verification Scorecard had no action areas, reflecting 100% compliance.
“For future programs, counties should adopt Kitui’s proactive approach by ensuring early preparation and timely organization of required documents. This will enhance efficiency, reduce delays, and streamline the verification process,” noted the official KDSP II report.
The Governors’ Sensitisation Programme also introduced new tools to improve county operations, including own-source revenue mapping, integrated performance management frameworks, and project stock-taking templates.
The forum was organized by the Office of the Deputy President and the State Department for Devolution, and brought together all 47 county governments through the Council of Governors (CoG), along with key development partners including the World Bank and the National Treasury.
Kitui’s performance reaffirms its commitment to effective devolution, accountability, and service delivery under the leadership of Governor Malombe.