Principal Secretary (PS) of the State Department for Devolution, in the Office of the Deputy President Ms. Teresia Mbaika Malokwe has said her department is currently undertaking the valuation of land assets in partnership with 30 county governments to determine their condition and financial status before they are fully transferred.
The PS noted that the Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee (IGRTC) has prepared a report of the devolved functions that needed to be transferred to counties in line with the Presidential directive that sought to unbundle the remaining functions from the national Government to counties as stipulated by the Constitution.
In December last year, President Ruto gave the Department of Devolution and IGRTC two months to document and transfer all the devolved functions that remained with the National Government to the counties.
Speaking in Naivasha on Monday during the Second Intergovernmental Relations Symposium organized by the IGRTC, the PS said an appraisal of the last 12 years had shown devolution is working but there was a need to enhance the skills gap and capacity for county governments to enable them efficiently handle transferred functions with billions of shillings that come with this transfer.
The theme of the symposium is, “Towards more harmonious and productive intergovernmental relations.”
“As we transfer the functions, there is a need to enhance skills, the capacity of the counties, and enhanced funding for the people to get value from the transferred functions,” Mbaika stated.
She at the same time called for enhanced accountability of resources at the counties to ensure Kenyans get value for money in terms of resource allocation and service delivery.
“There has been concern about management of funds in the counties and we appeal to counties to ensure that the taxpayers get the services they pay for with their taxes,” the PS directed the counties.
Ugenya Member of Parliament(MP) David Ouma Ochieng` on his part said the ongoing process of transferring remaining functions to counties would empower devolved units more in terms of influence, economy, and resources.
He then called for continued agitation for the National government to transfer all remaining functions and powers in line with the local laws and policies already adopted.
Ochieng’ who is also a member of the Speaker`s Panel in the National Assembly also noted that the transfer of more resources to counties should follow the transfer of functions adding that this would empower more people at the local level which would then turn around the fortunes of millions of citizens.
The MP however called on counties to effectively commit to prudently utilize and invest the transferred resources for the benefit of locals and at the same time advised county governments to enhance their revenue collections by modernizing their systems which would help seal leakages exploited to siphon public funds.
This, he said, would address frequent disputes and grind locks that have seen county governments lock heads with national government over delays in disbursement of funds and on revenue sharing formula.
The MP called for the adoption of Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms to unlock emerging apprehensions between the two levels of government outside the legal framework which hinders and delays key decisions.
The IGRTC Chair, Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Kithinji Kiragu, decried what he termed as rampant corruption in the counties and called for accountability and transparency on the part of the county governments, adding that public servants should serve wananchi with dedication and integrity.
Nakuru Deputy Governor David Kones who was present called for continuous engagement between the counties and the National Government to resolve merging issues.
By Mabel Keya–Shikuku and Erastus Gichohi
