The Council of Governors Vice Chairperson and Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, has faulted the Treasury over the delayed disbursement of funds to counties.
Abdullahi noted that the starvation of resources to counties has become an annual ritual and has discredited the objective of devolution as envisioned in the 2010 constitution.
Speaking during an interview with Citizen TV on Tuesday, the governor stated that the Treasury has perennially ignored the County Revenue Allocation (CRA) and the CoG.
“Every year the Treasury somehow pushes through their position disregarding both the position of the council and the CRA. This has resulted in countries being grossly underfunded to do their constitutional functions,” he said.
“Going into the third term of the implementation of the new constitution we’re still talking about the unbundling of the constitution and counties not still receiving resources as per their functions.”
This comes amid a strong conflict between the exchequer and the CoG over a prolonged delay in the release of funds over the last three months.
Governors have complained that the delayed disbursements have badly hampered service delivery as CoG Chairperson Anne Waiguru said counties have not paid salaries since November last year, with others being forced to go into debts to contain the situation.
The chairperson, Ann Waiguru said counties can no longer respond effectively to emergencies at the county level and are now at the mercy of the national government.
The Treasury has complained of cash crisis and said it can only disburse Ksh.391 billion against a required Ksh.439 billion.
By Matildah Obaigwa
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