Counties yet to receive El Nino funds, governors say

Council of Governors Chairperson Anne Waiguru addressing the press on Wednesday, November 22, 2023. [Image, CoG]

County governments are yet to receive monies totaling to Sh62.58b allocated for El Nino preparedness and mitigation measures from the National Government.

The Council of Governors (CoG) said that this is despite allegations that the devolved governments have already received the cash allocation, even as the rains continue to cause havoc and displace thousands across the country.

"We note with concern public utterances that suggest that County Governments have received funds from the National Government to support the mitigation of the devastating impact of the El Nino rains,” CoG Chairperson Anne Waiguru said on Wednesday.

“We take the position that such utterances are against the spirit of cooperative and collaborative Governments as envisioned under the provisions of Article 6 (2) of the Constitution.”

According to Waiguru, at least thirteen (13) counties are owed Sh10.17 billion for the month of September and some twenty-seven (27) counties owed Sh19.64bn for October. 
All counties are owed Sh32.8 billion for November, governors have said.

This comes as the rains leave a trail of deaths and destruction in most parts of the country.

The governors statement also follows a warning last month by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), notifying of an ‘impending scandal’ in mitigation measures ahead of the El Nino rains.

EACC, in a letter to various Constitutional Commissions and independent offices and copied to all county governments, called on all counties to strictly comply with procurement laws.