Assessing Devolution and Environmental Quality from Residents’ Perspectives: A Case of Suna East, Migori County, Kenya

Abstract

Kenya’s 2010 constitutional devolution aimed to improve service delivery by transferring governance responsibilities to county governments. This study examines residents’ perspectives on environmental changes in Suna East, Migori County—a rapidly urbanizing region experiencing growing ecological stress. A convergent mixed-methods design was used, combining data from 400 household surveys, eight focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and field observations. The findings reveal that environmental degradation has intensified since the onset of devolution, including increased solid waste accumulation, biodiversity loss, air and water pollution, and soil degradation. These changes are closely linked to unregulated urban expansion, weak environmental oversight, and poor enforcement of regulations at the county level. The growth of informal settlements and inadequate waste disposal infrastructure have further strained ecosystem services. Residents cited limited institutional capacity, fragmented governance, underfunding, political interference, and a lack of public engagement as key barriers to effective environmental management. Although devolution was expected to promote local accountability and context-specific solutions, its implementation has exposed serious governance gaps in urban environmental planning. To reverse these trends, the study recommends strengthening environmental governance through inter-sectoral coordination, improved waste management systems, and greater public participation in planning. Embedding environmental safeguards into county-level development strategies is essential for achieving sustainable urbanization and preserving ecological resilience in devolved contexts.