The Council of Governors (CoG) has urged the National Government to ensure the concurrent passage of key financial legislation, citing delays that are crippling service delivery and stalling development across counties.
Speaking during a sensitization forum on the Kenya Devolution Support Program (KDSP II) in Naivasha, the governors called for the simultaneous approval of the County Revenue Allocation Bill, the Division of Revenue Bill, and the County Governments Additional Allocation Bill. They argued that staggered and bureaucratic processes have left counties struggling to access vital funds, particularly donor-backed allocations.
CoG Chairperson and Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi emphasized that billions of shillings intended for crucial sectors such as agriculture, health, and education remain unutilized due to delays in disbursements. “The fragmented approval process means funds often arrive too late in the financial year to be effectively used,” he said, warning that projects across counties are being left in limbo.
The governors expressed deep concern over the implementation of the recently enacted County Governments Additional Allocation Act (CGAA), signed into law by President William Ruto. While the Act is designed to channel donor funds to counties, the CoG claims that bureaucratic bottlenecks have rendered it ineffective, with counties unable to access the funds in a timely manner.
The CoG also accused the National Treasury of deliberately delaying disbursements and colluding with lawmakers to frustrate county governments. In response, they called on development partners to engage directly with counties through the Council of Governors to bypass national-level inefficiencies.
“Devolution cannot thrive if counties are financially strangled,” said Governor Abdullahi. “The national government’s public support for devolution is not reflected in its actions.”
The World Bank has echoed these concerns, warning that persistent disbursement delays disrupt donor planning and risk deterring future investment in Kenya’s local development programs.
With mounting pressure on both the executive and the legislature, the CoG is now pushing for a complete overhaul in how donor allocations are handled, calling for a more transparent, timely, and decentralized approach that truly empowers county governments to meet the needs of their people.
Written By Rodney Mbua
