Let county revenue remain in devolved units, says CRA Chair Micah Cheserem

The Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) wants the Faculty Improvement Fund that hospitals used to collect under the centralised system of government reverted to the counties.

CRA Chairman Micah Cheserem further promised doctors, nurses and other medical personnel who want to transfer between counties, to be patient as the commission works to ensure there are smooth inter-county transfers.

"I am told whatever used to be collected by hospitals is now being taken to Treasury. I want to state that whatever is collected by the counties should go to the county, and whatever is collected by KRA should go to Treasury," Cheserem said after touring Busia County Hospital on Friday.

"Consultations between the various commissions is taking place to ensure the funds that are collected in hospitals are retained in the said hospitals, to cater for emergencies among other development issues," he added.

Cheserem was responding to the Busia County Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Janerose Ambuchi, who called on the CRA to liaise with the Controller of Budget and Treasury, to reroute the money they collect back to the respective health facilities.

Health challenges

The Faculty Improvement Fund (FIF) was introduced under the former centralised system of government. The money was topped up hospitals' budgets and catered for emergencies. Now this facility has been taken away.

Cheserem ruled out taking the health sector back to the national government, saying devolved health services was there to stay despite a number of challenges facing the sector in the 47 counties.

"We have all failed the medical personnel. There should have been civic education to doctors, nurses, and all civil servants to explain what devolution entails and how it affects them," said Cheserem.

"The centralised system did not succeed. However, the CRA does not accept re-centralisation of the health sector because of the challenges posed by devolution," he said.

Abuja declaration

He said the commissions are consulting to ensure smooth transfers of medical staff between counties.

"I am aware of the challenges staff who want to transfer from one county to another face. I am also concerned with promotions. We are consulting as commissions for a way forward. I call on the doctors, nurses and personnel to bear with us," he explained.

Cheserem was impressed with Governor Sospeter Ojaamong for funding the health sector to the tune of 27 per cent of the Sh4.7 billion allocated to the county in this financial year.

"We know that in the Abuja Declaration, 15 per cent of the national budget should be devoted to health. We have been told that in Busia it is more than 15 per cent," Cheserem said.

He ruled out the sharing of revenue collected at the border town, saying any such revenue is only meant for KRA.