Governors threaten to shut down counties in 14 days, decry budget cuts

Council of Governors hold a media briefing after an Extraordinary Council Meeting to deliberate on the recent budgets at CoG offices in Westlands, Nairobi. [David Gichuru, Standard]

Governors have threatened to shut down county operations in 14 days, accusing the national government of attempting to divert funds meant for devolved units.

Through the Council of Governors (CoG), the county chiefs condemned budget cuts in the 2025 supplementary budget, warning that the move would cripple service delivery.

At a press briefing Friday, the governors accused the national government of plotting to divert Sh38.4 billion in additional allocations, including Sh24 billion in donor-funded conditional grants.

"The Council of Governors demands the immediate restoration of all the diverted funds to county governments to ensure uninterrupted service delivery, failure to which county governments will shut down its services in the next 14 days," said CoG Deputy Chairperson Mutahi Kahiga.

"This blatant act is yet another attempt to systematically cripple service delivery across the 47 county governments and affront the devolution agenda as enshrined in the constitution of Kenya.”

Governors warned that the budget cuts would severely impact key county projects, including healthcare, agriculture, fisheries, water supply, roads, slum upgrading, and infrastructure development.

They also accused the national government of deliberately frustrating devolution while expanding its own budget.

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"On the contrary, the national government has increased its expenditure by at least Sh114 billion in the recently enacted supplementary appropriation act 2025," he stated.

"It is becoming increasingly apparent that these systematic budgetary cuts are designed to cripple county governments, hinder effective service delivery, and ultimately discredit and kill the devolved system of governance."

Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya warned that the cuts would also strain relations with contractors.

"Engaging contractors will be a problem," he said, urging the National Treasury to remain neutral in fund allocation.

He also questioned the government’s interest in donor funds.

"Some counties are yet to receive their funds this year and have been forced to borrow. How does Kenya benefit from diverting donor funds? Politics between counties and the national government is interfering with development," Natembeya said.

Kirinyaga Governor Waiguru urged the government to release the funds even as she expressed concerns at the continuous clawing back of not just the devolved functions, but also the resources that have been planned over years by development partners.

"We're therefore very baffled that every year we have to come and seem like we're fighting, swimming against the tide, to get devolution supported by the national government," she said.