The functions of the Kenya National Library Services (KNLS) have now been transferred to the county governments.
Uasin Gishu County Director of Human Resources, Josephat Rotich, said the transfer of KNLS services will broaden the functions of the county governments.
Speaking while receiving files and records of KNLS staff based in Eldoret, Rotich said the transfer of KNLS was advantageous to the County government, saying it will add muscle to the rollout of Information Communication Technology and youth empowerment programmes.
In a Kenya Gazette notice dated August 9, 2019, the Inter-Governmental Technical Relations Committee (IGTRC) approved delineating KNLS functions and distributing libraries between the National and County Governments.
“The County under the leadership of Governor Jonathan Bii has a keen interest in ICT and youth empowerment; KNLS will therefore be key in rolling out ICT incubation for our youth,” said Rotich.
He added that 18 staff under KNLS have been transferred to the County with effect from July 1, 2023, and that the library service will be a section under the Department of ICT and e-Government.
Acting Secretary for the County Public Service Board, Silah Rono, said the board will expedite the integration of transferred personnel into the county employment systems as per the established structures.
IGTRC representative Martin Kuelekho said the committee is finalising all functions meant to be devolved as per the constitution to counties.
By Kiptanui Cherono
