We'll sue over county funds, governors say

Governors have said they will move to court this week to compel the national government to surrender funds for devolved functions.

The Council of Governors will be represented by lawyers Paul Muite and Ahmednassir Abdullahi, according to chairman Peter Munya.

Mr Munya on Sunday said funds meant for water, roads and agriculture functions were still being held in national government's coffers.

According to the Meru governor, the counties are demanding Sh280 billion from the national government.

He said failure to release the monies had crippled the county’s development plans.

“We have decided to use legal means to get the money meant for the counties. The governors will push until that money is released as we cannot do our mandated functions without the funds,” he said during a fundraiser at Mikinduri Catholic Church in Tigania East.

The Meru County boss reiterated that governors would soldier on with the Pesa Mashinani campaign to increase funds allocated to the devolved units.

He, however, maintained that the campaign should not be misconstrued to mean that they were fighting the government.

“We are are not in any way pushing them to give us their money, but that which rightfully belongs to the counties,” Mr Munya said.

WORK TOGETHER

Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti echoed Mr Munya’s sentiments, saying governors had come together to ensure counties are well funded.

“We are united and we will work together as county bosses. We are fully behind our chairman,” he said.

At the same time, Mr Munya asked Kenyans to take their children for polio vaccination, despite the Catholic Church asking them to boycott the exercise over the health safety concerns.

Mr Munya said the vaccine was medically fit.

“Whoever blocks the vaccination is violating the rights of the children. We are telling these institutions against the polio eradication campaign to stop misleading Kenyans,” he said.

Nearly six million children in 32 counties will be vaccinated against polio after a risk analysis in January this year singled them to be mostly at risk.

The study showed that nearly 66 per cent of the population and particularly children were at risk of the viral infection.

The campaign will run in two phases, with the first scheduled for August 1 to 5 and the second for August 29 to September 2.

Additional reporting by Kennedy Kimanthi.