The leadership of the Kitui County Assembly has today convened at the County Assemblies Forum (CAF) offices in Nairobi for a crucial consultative meeting with the CAF Secretariat, as the fight for financial autonomy and legislative reforms gains momentum.
At the heart of the discussions was the County Public Finance Bill, 2023, which, if successfully enacted, will secure financial independence for County Assemblies. CAF CEO Ms. Lorna Losem provided a detailed briefing on the bill’s progress, revealing that it is now at the whole house stage in Parliament, a critical phase that could determine the fate of devolution’s legislative arm.
Also on the agenda were three other key bills pending before Parliament:
- County Equitable Ward Development Fund Bill (2024) – A game-changer aimed at ensuring direct funding to all county wards for localized development projects.
- County Assemblies Pension Scheme Bill (2024) – A long-awaited proposal that seeks to provide structured retirement benefits for county assembly members.
- County Civic Education Bill (2024) – A strategic move to entrench civic awareness at the grassroots level by empowering citizens with knowledge of governance and devolution.
Kitui leaders expressed concerns over the County Allocation of Revenue Act 2024, which slashed County Assembly budgets, effectively limiting their legislative and oversight functions. “We cannot allow this trend to continue; the Assembly must be fully empowered to serve the people effectively,” one of the House leaders remarked.
The meeting also set the stage for two major upcoming events:
- Special General Assembly (February 2025) – A high-level gathering expected to chart the way forward on pressing governance issues.
- Legislative Summit (March 2025) – A critical forum where County Assemblies will engage national leaders on policy formulation and devolution.
As devolution faces mounting challenges, Kitui’s leadership remains firm in their call for a strengthened legislative framework and financial empowerment of County Assemblies. The battle now shifts to Parliament, where the fate of these transformative bills hangs in the balance.
Will Kitui’s push for financial autonomy and policy reforms yield results? All eyes are now on the National Assembly as County Assemblies rally for a stronger voice in governance.
