By GPC Reporter
The Council of Governors (CoG) has raised concerns over delays in the disbursement of funds to county governments, warning that the situation is undermining service delivery and increasing pressure on devolved units.
CoG chairman and Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki said counties had been forced to source money from other allocations to pay Universal Health Coverage (UHC) staff absorbed on permanent and pensionable terms, despite an agreement that the national government would provide the accompanying resources.
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Njuki said counties had been paying the workers for four months without receiving the funds promised under the arrangement.
The national government, through the Ministry of Health, and county governments had agreed that the UHC staff would be absorbed by counties, with the associated resources channelled through the County Governments Additional Allocation Act (CGAA).
However, the funds remain at the National Treasury because the necessary procedures for their release have not been completed at the Senate.
Njuki called for the immediate disbursement of the money, warning that the Sh8.9 billion required to sustain the workforce could become a significant financial burden on counties and eat into allocations meant for other functions.
He said delays in transferring resources to counties affected their operations and sometimes resulted in pending bills, creating the impression that devolved units were incapable of managing their affairs.
The CoG chairman maintained that the national government must honour its commitments by releasing funds for functions already devolved to counties.
He noted that resources for devolved functions remained with national government line ministries even though much of the actual work was undertaken by county governments.
Njuki accused some national government officials of taking credit for work done by counties while distancing themselves from responsibility when questions arose over funding.
Greater say in resource allocation
The governors are also demanding a greater role in decisions concerning resources allocated to county governments.
Njuki said counties were often left out of key decisions, citing this year’s Division of Revenue Bill, on which the Commission on Revenue Allocation is currently collecting views.
He argued that county governments had not been adequately involved in the process and were instead engaged as a formality after the Treasury had already pushed through an agreement.
The CoG chairman said counties should have a meaningful say in decisions affecting their finances and the delivery of devolved functions.
