The Council of Governors (CoG) and the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) have strongly opposed the National Assembly’s decision to reduce county allocations from Ksh. 400.12 billion to Ksh. 380 billion.
This reduction, approved through the Division of Revenue (Amendment) Bill, 2024, has been described as unconstitutional by governors and the CRA.CoG Vice Chairperson and Wajir Governor, Ahmed Abdullahi, speaking before the Senate Committee on Finance and Budget, was joined by 19 other governors in expressing disapproval of the proposed cut. Abdullahi argued that county governments have implemented fiscal consolidation measures and that there is no justification for such a significant reduction in their equitable share.”The Council rejects this proposal and demands that the equitable share for counties remains at Ksh. 400,116,788,147 as stipulated,” said Abdullahi.
Several governors emphasized the Senate’s constitutional duty to protect devolution and ensure adherence to the law. Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior referred to Article 203 (1)(j) of the Constitution, which mandates that county allocations be stable and predictable, safeguarding them from revenue shortfalls.
The governors raised concerns about the negative impact the Ksh. 20 billion cut would have on county services, particularly healthcare and other essential services.”Reducing the allocation from Ksh. 400.12 billion to Ksh. 380 billion will cripple county operations,” warned Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa.
Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka urged the Senate to stand firm in defense of devolution, citing Article 96 of the Constitution that outlines the Senate’s role in representing and protecting county interests.The Senate Committee also heard from CRA Chairperson Mary Wanyonyi Chebukati, who reiterated the commission’s opposition to the reduction. She emphasized that the allocation for counties should remain at Ksh. 400.12 billion, warning that any cut would undermine their ability to provide services in a timely manner.
Senators present at the meeting, including Committee Chairperson Ali Roba and Vice-Chair Tabitha Mutinda, assured the governors and CRA that they would uphold their constitutional responsibility to protect devolution.”As Senators, we are committed to defending devolution and ensuring county governments receive the resources they need,” affirmed Roba.
The meeting underscored the united opposition to the proposed cut from both the governors and CRA, with all parties calling for the preservation of county allocations to ensure the effective delivery of services to the public.
The Council of Governors has called on Parliament to dissolve county governments, following a standoff over revenue allocation that has seen counties fall short of the Ksh 385 billion mark.Speaking today before the Senate Committee on Finance, Embu Governor Cecile Mbarire raised concerns over the delayed disbursement of funds from the National Treasury.
She warned that service delivery at the county level is on the verge of collapse due to financial constraints.According to Mbarire, the delay in releasing funds has severely crippled counties, making it impossible to run operations effectively.
The Council of Governors has also expressed dissatisfaction with the current allocation of Ksh 380 billion from the Treasury, urging Parliament to bridge the Ksh 5 billion gap and ensure counties receive the Ksh 385 billion initially agreed upon.”This shortfall in funding is unacceptable and is a threat to devolution,” Mbarire emphasized.
The governors argue that the shortfall hampers their ability to provide essential services such as healthcare, infrastructure development, and other public services to citizens.The standoff now places the counties in a precarious position, with some governors threatening to take drastic action should the funds not be disbursed in full. They have urged the National Assembly to intervene and resolve the matter, or face the consequences of dissolving the county governments altogether.
As tensions continue to rise, it remains unclear how Parliament will respond to this bold move by the governors. The next few days will be critical in determining the future of devolution and the functioning of counties across the country.
