County governments have been urged to re-align their County Integrated Development Plans (CIDP) to fit into the post Covid-19 challenges.
North Eastern regional population coordinator Moses Ouma said that counties would have to suspend some of the programmes and projects by reallocating more resources in the war against the deadly Corona virus.
Addressing the press in his office today, Ouma said the challenges posed by the Covid-19 required a multi-agency approach and key to it was planning on how best to tackle the pandemic that has led to job losses and adversely affected livelihoods.
The coordinator said the most affected were the women and girls ‘and that is why the theme of this year’s celebrations emphasizes on safeguarding the rights of women and girls’.
“The theme could not be more appropriate considering the challenges that has been presented by the pandemic to women and girls. Safeguarding our women and girls is safeguarding the future of our society,” Ouma said.
He said more funding should be channeled towards programmes that address challenges affecting women and girls.
Ouma noted that the rising cases of teenage pregnancies among school girls across the country “is a concern that cannot be wished away”.
“As we plan to reopen schools next year, where do we place these teenage girls? We have to plan now because the future of these girls lies in the hands of the government and the parents alike,” he added.
The coordinator urged parents to be more responsible in dealing with their children now that they have to stay with them at home until early next year.
Ouma also called on the Commission for Revenue Allocation to consider reviewing the formula of allocating resources pegged on population.
He said the political class were encouraging their people to have more children so that they receive more resources in total disregard of whether they were able to manage them or not.
“This trend is putting strains on available resources and quality of live. We have to look for a formula that will encourage Kenyans to have fewer children that they can afford to feed and educate,” he said.
Garissa County Finance CEC Roble Nuno said that the county has reallocated resources from various programmes and projects by giving priority to the presidential directive of 300 bed capacity hospital for each county.
Roble said that more resources would also be allocated to campaigns meant to curb and prevent the spread of the deadly Corona virus.
This year’s world population day theme is ‘Putting a break to Covid-19. Safeguarding the rights of women and girls.’
By Jacob Songok
