Improve welfare of marginalised communities

The Sh12 billion set aside by the government for development projects in 14 marginalised counties is a significant contribution to uplifting the welfare of millions of Kenyans. The marginalised communities have been hampered by lack of resources for many years.

The Treasury says the Equalisation Fund allocated for the next financial year will provide resources to build new roads and hospitals, and provide clean tap water and electricity.

The Fund will be channeled through the national, rather than the county government structure, as it is a special kitty designed to raise the living standards of people in marginalised areas to the level generally enjoyed by the rest of the nation. The Equalisation Fund is made up of all the revenue collected by the national government each year, and is governed by a marginalisation policy which identified 14 counties as marginalised — meaning that resources invested in infrastructure and the people is minimal.

The counties listed as marginalised are Turkana which was allocated 1.05 billion; Mandera (Sh967 million); Wajir (Sh929 million); Marsabit (Sh886 million); Samburu (Sh869 million); West Pokot (Sh866 million); Tana River (Sh859 million); Narok (Sh809 million); Kwale (Sh795 million); Garissa (Sh783.5 million); Kilifi (Sh763 million); Taita Taveta (Sh751 million); Isiolo (Sh746 million); and Lamu (Sh722 million).

The formula to determine which counties are maginalised has been contested in some quarters, especially by governors keen to control some of these resources and possibly exploit it for political capital. This must be resisted. Any attempts to gain political leverage from the disbursement of these funds, undermine the spirit of devolution.

Political discussions aside, the counties earmarked to gain from this fund must make every effort to ensure most of these monies are used to meet the cost of development projects identified as urgent by local people.

Too much money has been frittered away on salaries and paying for non-essential services, leaving local people still in need of key services.

In the same way, the Equalisation Fund must be allocated to infrastructure projects that local people identify as critical. In this way, local people will be the biggest beneficiaries. Going forward, we must insist that the National Treasury and counties resolve the issue of how much counties get from the Equalisation Fund.

Counties have often complained that what is disbursed is well below the constitutional threshold and this is unacceptable. The Treasury must, therefore, be prepared to meet its constitutional obligations every fiscal year, and ensure that maginalised counties get what they deserve.