Governors Threaten County Shutdown Over Delayed Funds Disbursement.
The Council of Governors (CoG) has threatened to shut down counties within fourteen days. If the National Treasury does not expedite the distribution of the counties’ equitable share.
Anne Waiguru, chair of the GoG, stated on Monday that as of April 24, the National Treasury had not disbursed a total of Ksh.94.35 billion, a four-month delay “unprecedented in the history of devolution.”
“Therefore, we demand that the CS National Treasury release the Ksh.94.35 billion owed to County Governments without further delay. The governor of Kirinyaga announced at a press conference that the Council of Governors will shut down counties if February, March, and April arrears are not paid within two weeks.
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According to the CoG chair, Treasury owes all 47 counties Ksh.31.45 billion for February, Ksh.29.6 billion for March, and Ksh.33.3 billion for April.
“We also notify the citizens of Kenya that, due to the failure of the National Treasury to disburse the funds, County Governments will be unable to deliver services as expected,” Waiguru added.
The governors were also dissatisfied with how the Senate voted on the Division of Revenue Bill, 2023. Rejecting an amendment. That would have allocated Ksh.407 billion to the devolved units as their equitable share for the fiscal year 2003/24.
“It is of concern to us that, throughout the history of devolution, the senate has never voted against the spirit of devolution about the increase of resources. COG urged the Senate to fulfill its primary role of providing county governments with sufficient resources.
The Governors also announced that the 2023 Devolution Conference will take place in Uasin Gishu County from August 15-19, 2023.
Governors Threaten County Shutdown Over Delayed Funds Disbursement.
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