National government threatens county's autonomy

President William Ruto and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga at the Devolution Conference

More than a decade in the devolution, leaders say counties are struggling with national government control, delayed funding, and transfer of responsibilities.

Speaking ahead of the 13th devolution conference in Homa Bay, Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo accused the national government of clinging to devolved functions.

Maanzo faulted the National Assembly’s dominance in allocating county funds,  side-lining the Senate’s constitutional oversight role.

“Distribution of resources to counties is influenced by the national government and the National Assembly than by the Senate. Counties are ready to progress but government is still holding them back,” he said.

He said although health and agriculture are devolved counties are still forced to pay for costly and idle medical equipment.

“Health has never really been fully devolved. The government has allegedly leased some equipment to counties from certain suppliers, and counties are required to pay for them,” he explains.

He cited mismanagement and graft as a growing threat to the spirit of devolution.

 “Corruption begins at the national level, which has now been devolved. Public funds are being mismanaged, weak institutions, administrative units in counties and national level,” he warned.

 Manzo blamed national government for giving lip service to devolved units as national functions take precedence.

 “The first charge you see from the National Treasury is funding ministries and the executive at the national level, while counties have to wait months and months for their disbursements to arrive.”

Murang’a Deputy Governor Stephen Munania echoed the sentiments and turned the spotlight on senators, accusing many of pursuing political ambitions rather than protecting county interests.

 “Majority of senators want to get into gubernatorial seats… the lacuna of law has not been addressed for 13 years,” he said.

 Munania raised concerns about the vulnerability of deputy governors, stating that ‘they have been side-lined by their bosses.

"It happened in Kisii and Siaya where deputies have not been seeing eye to eye with their bosses. In the later, the deputy was saved by the fallout of the Senate," he observed.

Munaina challenged the Senate directly over their defiant silence on national leaders' control of county functions.

“If the money is available for equipping, then why is the president the one to determine which level four hospital should get which machine, whether it's an X-ray, a CT scan?"