State to hold devolution forum

By Roselyne Obala and Geoffrey Mosoku

Kwale, Kenya: The government will next week hold the first devolution conference to assess the progress made one year into devolution.

The event dubbed, “One Year into Devolution: Celebrating the Milestones, Confronting the Challenges”, to be held in Kwale County will bring together different stakeholders in devolution to deliberate matters affecting the transition process.

Hundreds of leaders from the counties led by the 47 governors, their deputies and over 2,400 members of county assemblies will attend the conference.

The participation of this huge number of leaders is likely to cost taxpayers millions of shillings in paying accommodation, conference facilities, transport and per diem.

The conference comes at a time when county governments are faced with numerous hurdles that leaders have argued is a threat to the new system of government.

The governments are confronted with labour disputes, political standoff over national revenue allocation to counties, accountability in expenditures and the bloated workforce.

The meeting to be officiated by President Uhuru Kenyatta, will also see Parliament speakers Ekwe Ethuro (Senate) and Justin Muturi (National Assembly) and Chief Justice Willy Mutunga among other major devolution players address the country’s political leaders.

The two-day event will ventilate on various thematic matters, which include county planning and development, trade, commerce and investment, county legislative agenda, health, finance, energy, transport, agriculture, mining and natural resources. Other topics to be discussed include education and information, intergovernmental relations and public participation.

Challenges

Various independent institutions relevant to devolution; Transition Authority (TA), Commission for Revenue Allocation (CRA) among others will also be taken to task to explain their role and challenges in ensuring devolution becomes a reality.

There has been an outcry by the county boss that Parliament is out to water down their powers and that this attempt is against the spirit of the Constitution and devolution.

Council of Governors (COG) Chairman Isaac Ruto (pictured) and Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana have urged stakeholders in devolution to be in attendance and address matters affecting the implementation process.

“The conference will aim to have a devolution conversation that will restore the commitment of all Kenyans in working towards and believing in the devolution promise that is a key cornerstone of the Constitution,” noted Mr Ruto.

Governors, senators and MCAs are in agreement that counties need more funding to effectively manage the devolved system.

The National Assembly has proposed Sh217.87 billion national allocation to counties, which has received stiff opposition with county leadership lobbying for more to undertake the recurrent and development expenditure.

Even as the leaders head to Kwale, top of the agenda is to push for increased allocation to Sh240 billion.

Though county governments have received their fair share of criticism over expenditure, governors have indicated that they are ready to account for every penny spent.

“Kenya has a unitary public financial management system. Accountability and prudence in financial management at both levels of governments,” Ruto insists.

Ruto and Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi have taken issue with the national Treasury arguing that Kenyans also need to know how the 85 per cent is consumed by the national government.

“Someone is playing games at Treasury to discredit counties. The 6th tranche published is for January and not March,” said Mr Mohammed.