The Kenyan National Library Services (KNLS) and Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee (IGRTC) have successfully transferred the complete operations of the Kenya National Library Services-Awendo to the country government of Migori.
This is in line with the IGRTC mandates of fulfilling its obligation of transferring functions from the national government to the county governments.
During the transfer event that was held at National Library Awendo grounds, the Migori County Secretary Mr. Oscar Olima noted that IGRTC has conducted its residual function for the transfer of the library function to the county government of Migori.
Olima said that the transfer process has been ongoing for the official handover of the library function which is now a fully devolved function.
“Today we are signing the final agreements to fully move the devolved library functions from the national government to the county government,” said Olima.
The County Secretary outlined that the transfer operations of the library to the county government will not stop the two governments from continually working together.
“The transfer of the library is one of an ongoing collaboration of cooperation and it is just a normal transfer function. The two governments will always continue to work together for better service delivery to our people,” he said.
Olima also outlined that Sh. 9,000,000 has been transferred from the national government to the county government for library service in this financial year to take care of the staff and other library services.
On the pending bills owed by the library to other service providers, an Official from the KNLS Ms. Julie Musando stated that the national government has been committed to clearing all the pending bills by the National library before transferring them to the County Government.
According to Migori County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Education Ms. Rahab Robi, the county has only one library that serves the 12 Sub Counties of Migori.
She, however, said that the county government will expand the library in the 2024/2025 financial year to improve the education standards in the county.
The official also affirmed that they were looking forward to having a library in every sub-county within their term in office to improve the reading culture among students and residents.
By Geoffrey Makokha
