Forum ends with adoption of ‘key’ plans to protect devolution

Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka and his Uasin Gishu  enjoy  the evening beach party after the devolution conference ended in Leisure Lodge resort in Kwale County, Friday.  [PHOTOS: COLLINS KWEYU/STANDARD]

By TOBIAS CHANJIA and ROSELYNE OBALA

Kwale, Kenya: The two-day devolution conference held in Kwale County came to a close yesterday with governors settling on 22 key issues in their endeavor to ensure full implementation of devolution in the next one year.

Devolution stakeholders at the forum, pledged to ensure service delivery to Kenyans, good governance, inter-county coordination, intra-county co-ordination, accountability and cooperation with the National government.

The meeting disapproved the establishments of County Development Boards, arguing that it will contradict separation of powers by usurping functions of county executive.

The resolutions read on behalf of the participants by Council of Governors (CoG) by Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka, however, did not touch on the referendum issue as was the case last month at the Bomas of Kenya, during the first county governments’ forum.

The meeting instead focused on accountability on the part of county governments and called on the National government to respect the principles of separation of powers in execution of its mandate.

Lusaka also highlighted the transfer of assigned county functions still held by the National government and that all funds going to county governments should be channeled constitutionally.

Lusaka urged county governments to commit themselves to accountability, both to the people of Kenya and relevant oversight institutions as provided in law.

“As county bosses we are ready for audit by county assemblies, Senate and independent offices to enable Kenyans understand and participate in governance of their counties,” he said.

 He said accountability should not be used as a witch-hunt and that an effective audit framework should be put in place to oversee this.

Though participants showed interest of co-operating with the National Government, they blamed the same (National government) for delaying release of Sh3.4 billion Equalisation Fund in the current financial year.

“Timely and efficient disbursement of funds should be ensured to enable counties undertake their functions,” read part of the recommendations by Lusaka.

The conference welcomed the gesture by President Uhuru Kenyatta to support car grants to members of county assemblies (MCAs)

The joint communiqué pointed out that other decentralised funds should not be part of devolved funds and, therefore, cannot be used in determining the share of county government revenue.

In acknowledging the work done by Transition Authority (TA), the county officials gave this month as a deadline for the transfer of functions that were supposed to have been transferred by January.

“It is necessary to ensure prompt and full transfer of all functions respecting the principle that resources follow functions,” stated Lusaka.

The conference further called on constitutional commissions with responsibilities relating to devolution to take concrete steps to protect objectives of devolution through consultations.