CoG accuses executive, MPs of frustrating devolution

The Council of Governors (COG) accuses the executive and National Assembly of frustrating counties under the pretext of oversight.

Despite receiving 15per cent  of the Treasury’s allocation, counties face unfair targeting, even as corruption persists at the national level.

COG Deputy Chair Mutahi Kahiga condemned the intense scrutiny on governors while other officers escape oversight.

Speaking at the Kenya Devolution Support Program in Naivasha, Kahiga warned that devolution gains are being steadily eroded.

He noted that when devolution started, there was a fully-fledged ministry, but this had been turned into a department, adding that the release of funds to the counties had become a nightmare.

“We want a fully-fledged ministry to ensure that we stop tittering and we walk straight and make giant steps towards the full realisation of devolution,” he said.

On his part, Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki noted county allocations had not been released a couple of weeks before the financial year came to an end.

He noted that the funds would hit accounts days before the closure of the financial year, making it impossible to fully absorb them as required.

“The disbursement schedule has not been released to the treasury by the senate, and by the time this money is in the accounts, it will be days to the end of the financial year,” he said.

On the KDSP, he said that the programme would ensure that counties observe fiscal discipline because there were parameters to be met so that the counties could get the money.

Others who spoke were COG Chair Abdulahhi Ahmed, who said that just like development partners, counties were frustrated by the release of funds by the national government.

 “We are happy that the World Bank shall be releasing funds directly to counties, as we have been frustrated by the flow of funds from the national government,” said the Mandera Governor.