The Council of Governors has issued a 14-day notice to shut down Counties if NationalTreasury does not disburse pending funds within two weeks.
COG Chairperson Anne Waiguru said February, March, and April arrears amounting to Ksh94B were yet to be paid.
Speaking Monday after holding a meeting with fellow governors, Waiguru said devolution is under threat from the national government.
She said the delay is unprecedented in the history of devolution and negates the spirit of the meeting held in Naivasha between President William Ruto and the governors.
She also notified all Kenyans that due to the delay county governments will not be able to deliver services as expected.
“We also notify the citizens of Kenya that due to the failure of the National Treasury to disburse the funds, County Governments will not be able to deliver services as expected” She said.
“Treasury has not disbursed a total of Ksh.94.35 billion. The COG calls upon the CS National Treasury to immediately release the amount owed to County Governments without any further delay” she added.
Waiguru said the delayed disbursement is in contravention of the Constitution of Kenya and the Public Finance Management Act 2012, which provide for timely disbursement of Counties’ equitable share of the revenue.
The counties last week received Ksh31B being pending funds for the month of January.
“We haven’t received money for three months, it was Ksh125 billion…they paid Sh31 billion and now we are expecting Ksh94 billion,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Devolution conference will be held from 15th -19th August 2023 in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.
“The Council of Governors along with its partners is in the process of planning the Devolution Conference under the Theme: 10 years of Devolution: The Present and the Future and the Sub-Theme: Driving Transformation from the local level” the Kirinyaga County boss revealed.
As a precursor, to the Conference, the Council is also planning the Children’s Devolution Conference scheduled to take place from 3rd to 6th July 2023 in Kiambu County.
The proposed Theme for the Children’s Conference is “Empowering young voices: A Decade of Devolution and the Future of Children in Kenya.”
By Fred Odanga Azelwa.