The 2010 Promulgated Constitution created a separation of powers and granted power to the County Governments to raise their own revenue, alongside the support offered from the National Government.
In 2020, President Uhuru Kenyatta's government released Ksh 369 billion to be divided among 47 counties.
Despite the National Government launching key projects in counties, governors also seek support from donors to facelift their areas.
Below are some of the top projects launched by governors in Kenya in the period between 2013 and 2020.
Buxton Housing Project
This project was launched in Mombasa by area governor Hassan Joho in 2016 but was granted the green light in 2020. About 500 units at the county’s Buxton estate will be redesigned and redeveloped into 1,860 modern units.
The Buxton units include 150 units for the county staff and another 352 units for rentals. Currently, they are one and two-bedroom units for which they pay Sh2,800 and Sh3,662 respectively.
The project is expected to take two years to complete. Joho also upgraded Changamwe Road which eased traffic in Mombasa and cleared garbage from Kibarani, two key issues that affected his residents for years.
Upgrade of the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong'o upgraded this hospital at a cost of Ksh 130 million. The hospital emergency and trauma centre and constructed doctors' suites were upgraded.
He also renovated wards 1 and 2 and constructed a maternity theatre with a 31-bed capacity. The hospital serves a large part of Western Kenya.
The Kakamega County Teaching and Referral Hospital
Area governor Wycliffe Oparanya reiterated that health was one of the key priorities after he was re-elected for his second term in 2017.
The construction of the 750-bed cost Ksh 6.2 billion.
In March 2020, the county postponed completion and commissioning of the first phase, comprising a cancer centre, eye, renal, cardiac, diabetic and the intensive care units.
Kerugoya County Refferal Hospital
The Ksh 1.2 billion complex was fully funded by the county government of Kirinyaga under Governor Anne Waiguru.
She was complemented with technical support from the National Government.
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru stated that the complex will house intensive care units, high dependency units, an outpatient wing, theatres, a rental unit, emergency and casualty department, paediatric, surgical and medical wards, counselling and palliative care units, pharmacy, CT scan and X-ray services.
The Machakos County Water Project
The June 2014 Ksh 2.5 billion water project was developed in line with the vision of Governor Alfred Mutua.
The Policy aimed at spearheading fast development within the County and providing free safe drinking water.
It as well boosted and created an enabling environment for precision farming by developing irrigation water structures.
Mwache Water and Sanitation Project
The project in Kwale County under Governor Salim Mvurya received Ksh13.2 billion from donors, the French Development Agency (AFD) in 2018.
The dam is expected to provide water to Kwale County for domestic and sanitation purposes including irrigation while complementing water supply to Mombasa County.
Ksh 7 Billion Nairobi Affordable Homes
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko launched the construction of the Ksh7 billion public residential apartments in Ngara Estate in March 2019.
The project, River Bank Ngara apartments, was poised to see the construction of 3,000 units comprising eight blocks of 34 storeys for low and middle-income earners in line with the national government’s promise to provide affordable housing for all Kenyans.
The Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) under General Mohammed Badi took over the project.
