Counties budget allocation to be increased in the next financial year

Devolution and Planning Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru has hinted that budgetary allocation to the county governments may be increased during the 2015- 2016 estimates.

She revealed that the Division of Revenue Bill 2015 proposes to increase allocations to County Governments from the current Ksh. 226 billion to Kshs 283 billion to promote growth at the grassroots level.

The Cabinet Secretary informed County Executive Members during a precursor meeting to the Second Annual devolution conference that the government was reviewing policies on devolution to iron out challenges affecting the implementation of the new administrative structures of governance.

She said the 2014-2018 Ministerial Strategic Plan also intended to train and build the capacity of public servants both at the national and county levels on transformative leadership competencies and civic education at institutional levels to improve delivery of services.

 “We have planned a number of activities that will go a long way in improving public service delivery both at the national and county levels. We are in the process of rolling out Huduma Centers to the county and sub-county levels” Waiguru said.

Waiguru said the government was working effortlessly to deliver training across all core public sectors such as budgeting and finance, law and human resource to county government officers to improve on provision of services.

“We are currently finalizing the results of the Capacity Assessment and Rationalization of the Public Service (CARPS) Programme whereby we are conducting a skills audit of all government civil servants countrywide,” the CS said.

CS Waiguru also said that they will soon harmonize job groups in Counties adding that her ministry through the Directorate of Public Service Management is working on improving relations between the National Government representatives in Counties and County Government officials.

She however expressed optimism that nearly all the functions under the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution were successfully transferred to devolved unit three years ahead of the deadline envisaged in the Constitution.

CS Waiguru also observed that the necessary intergovernmental institutions such as the Summit, the Intergovernmental and Economic Council, the Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee and the Council of Governors were also operational.

The Meeting held at a Nairobi hotel was also meant to consolidate input from County Executives on areas of action for policy formulation and implementation.

It gave the members an opportunity for self-reflection and introspection and provides an impetus for improvement and positive change.

The Kenya Power and Lighting Company Limited (KPLC) Managing Director, Dr Ben Chumo said the company has embarked on an intensified reinforcement programme to increase power distribution network in all the 47 counties.

Other speakers included, Vice chairman Council of Governors Salim Mvurya and County Executive Secretary -Mombasa, Anthony Njaramba.