The Council of Governors (CoG) has raised fresh concerns over persistent delays in the disbursement of funds to county governments, warning that the financial setbacks are crippling service delivery and threatening the progress of devolution in Kenya.
Speaking during a consultative meeting in Naivasha, Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa, who chairs the CoG Finance Committee, lamented the late release of funds by the national government. He noted that counties are struggling to meet basic operational needs, which is undermining development and essential services at the grassroots level.
“This continued delay is paralyzing county functions and compromising the very goals devolution was meant to achieve,” Governor Barasa said, calling for swift intervention. He also urged the Office of the Controller of Budget to accelerate the automation of budget approval systems to reduce bureaucracy and enhance the efficiency of fund transfers.
CoG Chairperson and Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi echoed these sentiments, highlighting growing debts and financial instability among counties. “Counties are grappling with mounting obligations, and without timely disbursement, we risk reversing the gains made under devolution,” he warned.
Prominent constitutional expert Mutakha Kangu, who was in attendance, proposed long-term solutions including constitutional amendments to ensure timely and predictable financing for county governments.
The meeting brought together members of the CoG Finance Committee and representatives from the Office of the Controller of Budget, as stakeholders sought to chart a way forward in addressing the recurrent fiscal challenges.
The governors underscored the urgency of collaborative efforts to preserve the integrity of devolution and ensure that county governments remain equipped to deliver essential services without disruption.
Written By Rodney Mbua
