HISTORICAL, POLITICAL INJUSTICE: Stakeholders Rekindle Debate on Decades of Discrimination, Neglect and Denial of Devolution Rights

A renewed campaign for the creation of Thika County has gathered momentum, with leaders, professionals, businesspeople and residents accusing successive administrations of historically sidelining the larger Thika region and denying its people the full benefits of devolution.

The calls were made during a press briefing convened by the Thika County Stakeholders Forum, which brought together representatives from the business community, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Thika Chapter, the Council of Elders, Kiama Kia Ma, youth leaders, community policing representatives, residents, community-based organisations (CBOs) and other stakeholders from across the region.

In a joint statement to the press read by the forum’s Secretary, Martha Nyamu, the stakeholders said the people of the larger Thika region have for decades suffered historical, political and administrative discrimination that has left them shortchanged in terms of resource allocation, representation, infrastructure development and decision-making.

The stakeholders argued that although the 2010 Constitution introduced devolution to bring services, resources and governance closer to the people, residents of the larger Thika region continued to be excluded despite the area’s massive contribution to the country’s economy and rapidly growing population.

“Our people have for years watched other regions benefit from devolution while the larger Thika region continues to struggle with inadequate infrastructure, overstretched services and insufficient representation despite having a population larger than several existing counties,” the statement said.

The forum noted that devolution was meant to empower communities to manage their own affairs, participate in decision-making on issues affecting them and enjoy equitable sharing of resources.

However, the current administrative structure under Kiambu County has made it very difficult for residents of Thika, Juja, Ruiru, Gatundu North and Gatundu South to fully enjoy those constitutional promises.

According to the stakeholders, the proposed Thika County would comprise the five constituencies of Thika Town, Juja, Ruiru, Gatundu South and Gatundu North, areas they said share deep historical, economic, social and cultural ties dating back to the establishment of the larger Thika District in 1933.

They argued that the larger Thika region has evolved into one of the country’s biggest urban, industrial and economic hubs, yet residents continue to face challenges associated with underfunding, strained public services, poor infrastructure planning and limited access to opportunities.

The stakeholders pointed to the 2019 national census, which places the combined population of the proposed Thika County at approximately 1,187,860 people, a figure larger than the combined population of several existing counties including Tana River, Samburu, Isiolo, Tharaka Nithi and Lamu.

At the same time, they noted that Kiambu County’s population of about 2.4 million people has placed immense pressure on service delivery and resource distribution, making it increasingly difficult for all regions within the county to receive equitable attention.

The forum noted that the people of Thika were unfairly disadvantaged following the dissolution of Thika District in 1966. The district had existed independently between 1933 and 1966 before it was dissolved through a parliamentary motion moved by the then Kandara MP Bildad Kagia.

The move, they argued, effectively split the former Thika District between Kiambu and Murang’a after Chania River was adopted as the administrative boundary, a decision they described as a historical injustice that fragmented the region politically, economically and socially.

They further claimed that when Kenya adopted the 2010 Constitution and created the current 47 counties, the historical existence of Thika as an independent district was overlooked, leaving residents feeling excluded from a governance structure they believe they rightfully deserved.

“We believe the people of Thika were shortchanged during the formation of counties despite meeting the threshold and historical criteria that would have justified the establishment of Thika County,” the statement read.

The forum welcomed the Senate’s recent passage of the County Boundaries Bill, 2023, saying it had opened a fresh opportunity for Kenyans to address historical injustices and review administrative boundaries in line with the spirit of the Constitution.

The stakeholders revealed that the current push is the second phase of their campaign after they previously presented a memorandum to the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) at Bomas of Kenya on October 2, 2023.

They said the new petition, prepared under Article 119(1) and Article 188 of the Constitution as well as the Petitions to Parliament (Procedure) Act, seeks to formally initiate the process of splitting Kiambu County and establishing Thika County.

According to the forum, the creation of Thika County would not only restore the region’s historical identity but also strengthen service delivery, increase access to resources, enhance representation and ensure decisions affecting residents are made closer to the people.

The stakeholders argued that devolved units work best when leadership, planning and allocation of resources are closer to wananchi, allowing communities to directly influence development priorities affecting their daily lives.

They further announced the beginning of a major public sensitisation campaign through mainstream and social media platforms aimed at educating residents on the importance of the proposed county and rallying support across the region.

The forum expressed confidence that the push for Thika County would continue gaining momentum as residents increasingly realise the need for greater autonomy, fair representation and equitable distribution of national resources.

Quoting the Bible, the stakeholders concluded their statement by saying: “Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”