A small cluster of six counties have emerged as the biggest beneficiaries of Kenya’s devolved funds, receiving a combined total of more than Sh721 billion, according to reports appearing on the dailies today.
The reports underscores a growing concern about inequality in devolution, as remittances to the six counties represent over a quarter of the Sh3.7 trillion shared among all 47 counties between 2013 — when devolution kicked off — and 2024.
At the top of the list is Nairobi County, which received Sh169.41 billion, the highest allocation among all devolved units. Its status as the capital city and its dense population were key drivers behind the hefty disbursement.
Turkana County comes second with Sh118.81 billion, largely attributed to its vast land area and long-standing developmental marginalization. The funds are meant to bridge decades of infrastructural and service provision gaps.
Council of Governors Chair Ahmed Abdullahi during a recent briefing on devolved funds, amid revelations that six counties took the lion’s share of Sh3.7 trillion.
Kakamega County, known for its large population, received Sh111.45 billion, while Nakuru County closely followed with Sh110 billion, boosted by its urban economy and growing industrial base.
Mandera County, which has battled insecurity and underdevelopment, secured Sh108 billion, and Kilifi County, marked by high poverty and a growing population, was allocated Sh104.43 billion.
The full breakdown of the Sh3.734 trillion disbursed to counties includes:
Equitable Share: Sh3.141 trillion
Own-Source Revenue: Sh403.39 billion
Grants: Sh189.44 billion
The Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) uses parameters such as population (45%), basic equal share (26%), poverty levels (18%), land area (8%), and fiscal responsibility (3%) to guide disbursement.
Critics, however, argue that the formula — while structured — has failed to adequately reflect the developmental urgency in many of the smaller or less politically influential counties.
As Kenya marks over a decade of devolution, the spotlight is once again on whether the system has delivered equitable development, or simply recreated a new form of regional economic imbalance.
