Transition Authority approves functions to be devolved in the next two weeks

By Roselyne Obala and Nikko Tanui

Kenya: County governments have made a breakthrough in their push to have functions devolved as enshrined in the Constitution.

Sunday, Transition Authority held a board emergency meeting where they approved a list of functions county governments will be required to apply for in the next two days.

The latest development comes hot on the heels of just concluded retreat for governors, senators, TA and Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution (CIC) to iron out hurdles facing the devolved system of governments.

The heated debate in Kwale County by governors and senator was characterised by an onslaught on TA over the delays in the gazattement of functions.

 Sunday, TA officials led by chairman Kinuthia Wamwangi held an emergency board meeting to come up with modalities on how to transfer functions.

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Wamwangi  told The Standard Sunday that they had analysed the function under schedule four, part two, by unbundling some of the 14 functions and now it was up to the county governments to apply.

Meanwhile, more than 10 legislators and a senator from the South Rift have dismissed plans by governors to take the country to a referendum to force the Jubilee government to give counties a minimum of 40 per cent of the annual national budget, up from the current 15 per cent proposed by the Constitution.

Speaking during a thanksgiving ceremony for Sigowet/Soin MP Justice Kemei at his home in Kericho West District, the legislators led by Kericho county senator Charles Keter argued that Jubilee government had set aside 32 per cent of the national revenue to the county government which is more than the 15 per cent threshold set by the constitution.

“There was no referendum held when the jubilee government increased to 32 per cent of the national revenue to go to the county governments up from the 15 per cent proposed by the constitution,” said Keter.