{"id":4426,"date":"2025-08-15T07:56:30","date_gmt":"2025-08-15T07:56:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/?p=4426"},"modified":"2025-08-15T07:56:30","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T07:56:30","slug":"while-most-counties-displayed-posters-machakos-displayed-progress-governor-wavinya-ndeti-puts-machakos-county-in-kenyas-top-5-innovators-at-the-devolution-conference-in-homabay-while-43","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/15\/while-most-counties-displayed-posters-machakos-displayed-progress-governor-wavinya-ndeti-puts-machakos-county-in-kenyas-top-5-innovators-at-the-devolution-conference-in-homabay-while-43\/","title":{"rendered":"While Most Counties Displayed Posters, Machakos Displayed Progress: governor Wavinya Ndeti Puts  machakos County in Kenya\u2019s Top 5 Innovators   at the Devolution conference in Homabay While 43 Others  counties Sleeps:had nothing to showcase"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>At this year\u2019s Devolution Conference in Homa Bay, the stark reality of Kenya\u2019s 13-year experiment with devolved governance was on full display and it wasn\u2019t flattering for most counties. Out of 47, only five counties showcased genuine innovation. The rest offered little more than glossy posters, dusty brochures, and photos of leaders cutting ribbons.<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4427\" src=\"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241968941-265x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"265\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241968941-265x300.jpg 265w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241968941.jpg 599w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 265px) 100vw, 265px\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4428\" src=\"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241676452-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241676452-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241676452-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241676452-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241676452.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4429\" src=\"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241712498-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241712498-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241712498-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241712498-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241712498.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4430\" src=\"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241710114-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241710114-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241710114-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241710114-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241710114.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>But in the midst of this national embarrassment, Machakos County stood tall. Under the visionary leadership of Governor Wavinya Ndeti, Machakos refused to be part of the 43 counties with nothing tangible to display. Instead, the county brought forward impressive tech-driven solutions and agro-processing initiatives that spoke directly to the spirit and promise of devolution.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Governor Wavinya, recently ranked as Kenya\u2019s second most performing governor, has made it clear that Machakos will not settle for mediocrity. The county\u2019s stand at the conference demonstrated a forward-looking approach\u00a0 one that marries technology, value addition, and agricultural potential to create jobs and grow the local economy.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4431\" src=\"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241707863-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241707863-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241707863-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241707863-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241707863.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4432\" src=\"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241705261-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241705261-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241705261-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241705261-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241705261.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4433\" src=\"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241701648-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241701648-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241701648-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241701648-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241701648.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4434\" src=\"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241688946-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241688946-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241688946-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241688946-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241688946.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4435\" src=\"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241686000-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241686000-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241686000-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241686000-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241686000.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4436\" src=\"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241682131-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241682131-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241682131-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241682131-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241682131.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>While other counties seemed trapped in the cycle of ribbon-cutting photo ops and reliance on the National Treasury, Machakos exemplified what it means to take local resources, add value, and build sustainable industries. From advanced agricultural processing to tech-enabled service delivery, the county showed that devolution can indeed work\u00a0 if leaders are willing to think beyond allowances and handouts.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Observers couldn\u2019t help but contrast Machakos\u2019 performance with the disappointing showing from resource-rich counties like Turkana ,Baringo, and Kisumu, which arrived at the conference with nothing beyond token displays. The difference, many noted, is leadership and strategic vision.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4437\" src=\"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241671871-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241671871-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241671871-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241671871-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241671871.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4438\" src=\"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241668807-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241668807-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241668807-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241668807-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241668807.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4439\" src=\"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241663924-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241663924-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241663924-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241663924-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241663924.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4440\" src=\"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241686000-1-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241686000-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241686000-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241686000-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755241686000-1.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Governor Wavinya\u2019s success proves that counties can harness their comparative advantage and create real economic impact. Her administration\u2019s initiatives are not just conference exhibits they are living projects with the potential to transform livelihoods.<\/p>\n<p>In a year when devolution\u2019s \u201cempty showroom\u201d was laid bare for all to see, Machakos provided a rare spark of hope. If more counties followed Machakos\u2019 lead, the next Devolution Conference could truly become a showcase of Kenyan ingenuity, not a gallery of missed opportunities. The five counties which displayed impressive devolution initiatives include Meru, Machakos Kakamega, Makueni and Mombasa (university students innovation)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At this year\u2019s Devolution Conference in Homa Bay, the stark reality of Kenya\u2019s 13-year experiment with devolved governance<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4441,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[52,18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4426","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-governance","category-newsbeat"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG-20250815-WA0252.jpg",1587,1463,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG-20250815-WA0252-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG-20250815-WA0252-300x277.jpg",300,277,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG-20250815-WA0252-768x708.jpg",640,590,true],"large":["https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG-20250815-WA0252-1024x944.jpg",640,590,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG-20250815-WA0252-1536x1416.jpg",1536,1416,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG-20250815-WA0252.jpg",1587,1463,false],"morenews-featured":["https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG-20250815-WA0252-1024x944.jpg",1024,944,true],"morenews-large":["https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG-20250815-WA0252-825x575.jpg",825,575,true],"morenews-medium":["https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG-20250815-WA0252-590x410.jpg",590,410,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"Kambaland Times","author_link":"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/author\/kituitimes\/"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/index.php\/category\/governance\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Governance<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/index.php\/category\/newsbeat\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Newsbeat<\/a>","tag_info":"Newsbeat","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4426","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4426"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4426\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4443,"href":"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4426\/revisions\/4443"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4441"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4426"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4426"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kambalandtimes.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4426"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}