47 COUNTY GOVERNMENTS YET TO RECEIVE OVER 94B

The council of Governors have decried the delay of release of funds amounting to Kshs 94.35 billion meant for the implementation of county budgets.

By Mary Mukabane

Speaking at a press briefing in

Nairobi, Hon. Ann Waiguru, the

Chairperson of the Council of Governors

in Kenya said that the financial year

2022/23 is coming to a close in one and

a half months yet the national

treasury has not disbursed the monies

to counties to facilitate

implementation of county budgets.

“Despite the mutual agreement between

the Council and the national treasury

arrived at during a meeting held on 2nd

may 2023, the national treasury is yet

to disburse the pending equitable

share to counties as resolved,” she

said.

Waiguru also accused the ministry of

health of derailing the county

governments efforts to improve

healthcare within the counties.

“We are staring at a crisis in the

implementation of devolved health

services due to deliberate steps by the

ministry of health to claw back on the

health function, thus derailing the

gains made since 2013,” she said.

Waiguru added that some of the areas

heavily affected by the said

interference of the ministry of health

in the execution of devolved health

functions include primary health Care

delivery, engagement of community

health promoters, attempted

establishment of primary care networks

and creation of institutions and

authorities within the sector.

“Despite the challenges, these council

reaffirms it’s commitment to the

success of devolution and delivery

quality service to all Kenyans . We are

open to investments and to

partnerships to ensure that devolution

thrives. We call upon the national

government to support this process

through issuing conditional grants for

all programs on devolved functions,”

she said.