Governors fault MPs on devolved funds

Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka during a past interview. The Council of Governors Secretary has observed that counties with level five hospitals are threatened due to inadequate funding. FILE PHOTO | ISAAC WALE |

What you need to know:

  • This comes as former Committee of Experts Chairman Nzamba Kitonga said drafters of the Constitution did not want MPs to manage county funds but to check the national government’s expenditure.
  • The council’s Vice-Chairman, Mr Salim Mvurya, said MPs were abusing their powers to amend the Constitution.

Governors have protested against a “plot” by MPs to control devolved funds.

They complained about a Bill that seeks to give the lawmakers control of 10 per cent of the national audited revenue through the Constituency Development Fund.

They are also unhappy with another draft law that will allow MPs to have control over the Sh3.4 billion Equalisation Fund as passed in this year’s Budget.
This comes as former Committee of Experts Chairman Nzamba Kitonga said drafters of the Constitution did not want MPs to manage county funds but to check the national government’s expenditure.

Mr Kitonga said the Equalisation Fund was meant for underdeveloped areas and described the MPs’ “onslaught” as an attempt by a “watcher to watch himself”.

The Council of Governors said devolution would go to the dogs if the two Bills became law.

Lugari MP Ayub Savula is sponsoring a petition, which, if passed, would give the MPs control of 10 per cent of the national audited revenue, up from 2.5 per cent.
Currently, CDF cash stands at Sh33 billion. The figure is set to triple once the Bill is passed.

Through a petition by Samburu West MP Lati Leleit, the legislators also want the constituencies in 14 counties set to benefit from the Equalisation Fund to equally share the amount.

Council of Governors Secretary Ken Lusaka said MPs should stop trying to control county funds.

“They want to take away the Equalisation Fund from the 14 marginalised counties, and have gone for 10 per cent of the national revenue. What makes them think they can better handle these funds and not the devolved units?” he asked.

Mr Lusaka, who is also the Bungoma county boss, said: “Kenyans gave themselves a devolved governance system because they wanted a place where they could get heard and their funds administered by a leader who is near them.”

He called for a mechanism that would help the counties control all the money meant for development.

“If indeed the MPs want to help their constituencies, why don’t they push for more money to counties because, in essence, we (governors) develop their zones,” he said.

The council’s Vice-Chairman, Mr Salim Mvurya, said MPs were abusing their powers to amend the Constitution.