KENYATTA UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC POLICY & ADMINISTRATION.
Master of Public Policy and Administration-Dr. Felix Kiruthu –February, 2023
INSTRUCTIONS ON INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP WORK ASSIGNMENTSStudents will be expected to submit a 7-page length term paper for both Group Assignment and
the Individual Assignment. The paper should be well written and it should observe the basic
canons of good scholarly writing. In assessing this paper, we will pay attention to elements of
good writing including how well the paper is referenced. For a basic introduction to elements of
good writing, William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White, The Elements of Style (New York: Longman,
[1959] 2000), (New Edition) is a guide.
The term paper must contain:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
Table of contents
An Introductions
Sub-sections
conclusion
References
APP 803: Devolved Government – Group work -ASSIGNMENT
1. The UN Experts assisting in the decentralization of a neighbouring country that is
recovering from war are keen on decentralising services so to reach the most
underserved citizens and ensure maximum return on investment in the country.
Task: You have been selected to lead a working group to propose options for the
government, which is keen to improve on re-election. Write a position paper describing
different types of decentralisation processes or structures available for the country. In
the essay, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the decentralization system you
have prescribed.
2. Discuss the concepts of community participation and accountability as they relate to
devolution in Kenya and explain how the public can apply this avenue to enhance good
governance.
3. Discuss how the Kenyan system of devolved government compares with any other
country of your choice in addressing entrenched iniquities and political marginalization.
4. Discuss the challenges experienced by Kenya in the attempt to decentralize the system
of government from independence up to 1978.
5. Using the concrete examples, discuss the main causes of intra- county squabbles and
suggest ways of solving them.
6. There have been several cases of inter- county disputes in Kenya since the devolved
system of government was inaugurated. Using concrete examples discuss these disputes
and suggest ways of ending them
APP 803: Devolved Government- Individual Assignment
1. Discuss why it is important to pay attention to the political and socio-cultural aspects of
a country when designing a devolved system of government.
2. Discuss the challenges experienced by the Ugandan government in the attempt to
decentralize the system of government since 1987.
3. Evaluate the efforts made by the Indian government to decentralize governance since
Independence and explain the challenges it has experienced since then.
4. . Examine the main efforts made by the Kenyan government in its attempt to
decentralize governance from 2002 up to 2010.
5. . Evaluate the constitutional mandate of the Transitional Authority and evaluate the
challenges it experienced in midwifing the devolution process in Kenya.
6. . Using specific examples discuss how the counties have tried to solve issues of ethnicity,
clannism as well as sectionalism and explain their efforts towards
enhancing diversity and inclusivity.
7. . With reference to the Intergovernmental Relation Act (2013), evaluate the main
efforts made towards promoting relations between the national and county
governments and the challenges encountered since 2013.
8. Some members of the National assembly and Senate have demanded for the
amendment of the constitution in order to provide for the establishment of more
devolved units in Kenya. Evaluate these demands in view of the quest to cater for
diversity and equity in the country.
9. Using the case study of Zimbabwe, discuss the efforts at devolving governance in the
country and explain the challenges that have been experienced in the process.
10. Decentralization of the health sector in Kenya can be traced back to the 1980s. Discuss
the efforts taken by the to decentralize the sector from 1980 to 2022 and explain the
challenges encountered
11. Evaluate the view that the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) was geared towards
enhancing devolution in Kenya and explain why it was opposed by some Kenyans.
12. Discuss the place of National Government Constituencies Development Fund in regard
to fiscal devolution in Kenya in Kenya in view of the recent Supreme Court ruling that it
does not sit well in the Constitution.