Decentralization and Local Governments in Kenya

This paper is adapted from a recent World Bank study that examined the performance of Kenya’s five largest cities, namely Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Elodret. That study identified a host of factors that have contributed to the failure of Kenyan cities, especially Nairobi and other large cities, from realizing their full economic potential. Chief among those factors was the marginalization of Kenya’s local governments over the last four decades, and the weak accountability and capacities of these units to be responsive and efficient to their constituents.