By The Peak Reporter
Governors want all funds allocated to National Government ministries and departments that run functions that are already devolved reallocated to counties.
According to the Council of Governors that appeared before the National Assembly Budget and Appropriations Committee on Friday, there is about Ksh262 billion that has been allocated to the National Government yet most of the functions they are running either being carried out by counties or there is serious duplication leading to loss of public resources.
The governors who appeared, led by the Council’s Vice Chair and Wajir Governor Abdulahi Ahmed, who were making a case for Ksh450 billion, accused the National Government of holding on to funds meant for counties yet they have maintained that they fully support devolution.
The Council’s Chief Whip and Nandi Governor Stephen Sang’ noted that a report by the IGTRC released about two months ago has laid bare truths about funds the National Government has declined to release to the devolved units insisting that such amounts would play a critical role in turning around key functions ran by counties such as Health, Agriculture and Early Childhood Development.
Consequently, Tharaka Nithi Governor and the Council’s Health Committee Chairperson, Muthomi Njuki wants the Health Ministry budget cut by about Ksh50 billion and the money sent to counties to support functions.
He noted that the Health Ministry which should only be focused on policy has a budget of Ksh147 billion yet all the 47 counties are given a budget of Ksh110 billion, yet they run most of the hospital facilities with the National Government only running level six hospitals.
Governor Njuki warned that there was a risk of someone rushing to court to challenge the budget putting into consideration the number of devolved functions still being run by the Central Government.
