The primary task of any country’s leadership is to develop strategies, and leave internal matters to the executive authorities and local municipalities, which are granted broad powers. In this context, the governor acts as a local ruler within their governorate, and serves as an appointee and representative of the head of state. That is why governors are carefully selected, as they must be knowledgeable about the laws and the administration of the governorate. The employees surrounding the governor must also be carefully chosen, as they collectively form the local authority and are a miniature reflection of the government and its governance. In some countries, governors, deputy governors, and mayors are elected from among the residents of their governorates.
The main responsibility of a governor is development and reform, and in some cases, they even oversee education, and not just the usual services. In some countries, governorates compete with each other to attract tourists and develop their infrastructure, with budgets allocated to them along with the fees collected from citizens within their jurisdiction. For the second or perhaps third time, we return to the issue of governors in Kuwait and their role, which remains somewhat ambiguous. According to the laws and directives from the political leadership, it was anticipated that each governor would play an active role in their governorate, especially given that they are appointed at the rank of minister.
Article Two of the governorates law clearly defines their powers, and their role in implementing the general policy of the state and managing the areas within their jurisdiction, much like governors in other countries. However, in Kuwait, things have not progressed to this point. Instead, governors seem to rely heavily on the ministries of services. They have transformed their offices into diwaniyyas rather than active workshops for governance and reform.
As we know, the leadership has been clear on this matter. His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmed Al- Jaber Al-Sabah, issued direct instructions to the new governors to focus on development and reform. However, to this day, little has changed. Garbage still litters some alleys and streets, and damaged roads remain untouched, despite the efforts of the Ministry of Public Works. Also, many violations have gone unaddressed. On the other hand, we have not witnessed any cooperation between the governorates and the cooperative societies.
The cooperative societies are crucial in enhancing services within their areas, as their model is built on the principle that the consumer is the owner. Their revenues not only go toward distributing profits to citizens but also aim to drive development in collaboration with the local authority. These services include hygiene, waste management and others that benefit the people of the region. It is also the governor’s responsibility to listen to the opinions and complaints of citizens and work to resolve their issues, taking into account what is appropriate for the social and environmental context of their governorate. According to the law, the governor is tasked with overseeing matters related to environmental safety, public health, and everything that supports the state’s goals. This includes organizing citizens’ participation in solving problems and contributing to solutions in coordination with other state institutions. If we interpret the law literally, the governor’s duties also involve promoting and supporting religious, educational, social, sports, cultural, and health activities, as well as guiding them in a way that builds a sense of responsibility.
The governor should also work to cultivate the spirit of cooperation and national belonging, in coordination with the relevant state authorities. Governors must actively develop and enhance their roles, as they hold ministerial authority over financial and administrative matters related to their governorates. Therefore, when citizens call for the development of the governors’ work, it is to raise awareness about the powers granted to them, which allow them to fulfill their responsibilities without being hindered by the bureaucratic complexities that trace back to the 1950s and are still deeply ingrained in the minds of many employees. In conclusion, it is important to strengthen and enhance the governors’ roles and activities for more effective governance.
