Spend cash wisely, counties told

Devolution Cabinet Secretary Ann Waiguru and vice-chairman of the Council of Governors Salim Mvurya (centre) in Nairobi on April 13, 2015 during the Devolution Conference. Fear that Jubilee and Cord political rivalry could play out in the upcoming election for the next chairman of the Council of Governors is making consensus the most favourable option of picking the new set of leaders. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL |

What you need to know:

  • Devolution CS says they should work within their budgets.
  • Government sometimes is unable to disburse funds due to inadequate revenue collection.

County governments should stop complaining about inadequate funds and work within their budgets, Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru has said.

The Cabinet secretary said budgets were allocated according to the functions devolved to the counties and the resources available were not enough.

She said the cash flow challenges that affect service delivery in counties are also experienced at the national level and governors should not perceive such hitches as a deliberate move to deny them funds.

“Streamline your budgets to work with the resources allocated to you. No ministry is given the resources it requires,” she said.

NO MONEY

Ms Waiguru explained that sometimes funds meant to be disbursed to counties delayed due to inadequate revenue collection by the national government.

“No one delays disbursements to counties deliberately. The assumption that the government has the money in the bank is wrong. At times, the revenue has not been collected as anticipated,” said Ms Waiguru.

She was speaking at Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, when she opened a devolution conference for the Council of County Executive Committee (CEC) members from the 47 counties.

Ms Waiguru said the government must deal with critical functions such as payment of salaries before turning to other needs.

“It is not a question of being inefficient but more of availability of revenue,” she said.

The CECs said counties had been struggling with incomplete projects and accusations they cannot provide services yet the real problem is limited financial disbursements from Treasury.

Mr Richard Kipsang’, the CEC in-charge of water in Nakuru County, said: “Funds should follow devolved functions without delay as provided for in the Constitution.”

The CECs also complained that the national government was signing contracts affecting counties without involving them.

“There are a lot of donor funded projects being undertaken in counties yet the funds are being held at the ministries’ headquarters. Donor funding for the devolved functions should be channelled to the counties,” said Mr Kipsang’.

Ms Waiguru, however, denied claims that some funds meant for the county governments were being retained in the national government.

“There is no money for county governments that goes to the national government. I have never signed an agreement for any resources that go to the counties at the national level,” she said.

Ms Waiguru said that only the Treasury has the mandate to sign government-to-government deals.