Council of Governors of Kenya Governors bid to disband Transition Authority

By ALPHONCE SHIUNDU

The Council of Governors has backed a proposal to disband the Transition Authority (TA).

The governors say the proposal in the Statute Law (Miscellaneous amendment) Bill, 2013 is an agreed position of the governors and the national government.

The chairman of the council, Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto told The Standard that TA had failed in carrying out its mandate and there is no reason it should continue to exist. 

He noted the slow asset audit in the counties and the on-going transfer of functions to county governments as some of the failures of the authority.

TA’s job was to midwife devolution of power and resources to the counties, but it has met hostility from the national and county governments over alleged failure to deliver on its mandate.

“Seven months after county governments took effect, we don’t even know who owns the property in the counties. The Transition Authority was supposed to create an inventory of assets. They have not done so. We’re still talking about unbundling of functions. They should go home,” said Ruto.

The proposal in the Bill seeks to have TA replaced by a committee formed jointly by the national and county governments.

Ruto said once the authority is dissolved, then, the Intergovernmental Relations Committee will work with the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution to ensure the three-year timeline for devolution is fully activated.