Governors: Budget betrays Jubilee word on devolution

By Stanley Mwahanga

Mombasa, Kenya: Governors have faulted the National Budget allocations to agriculture and irrigation, claiming it betrayed the Jubilee government’s commitment to implement devolution.

Citing the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution that provides for key components of the agricultural and health sectors be transferred to the devolved governments, the county bosses claimed the allocations National Treasury Secretary Henry Rotich proposed for the functions was a plan to sabotage devolution.

Speaking in Mombasa during the Governors Agricultural Forum on Saturday, the governors said the Rotich move to set aside money for hiring nurses and irrigation was further proof of an onslaught against the devolution process.

Agree on Deals

The seminar was convened by the US, Denmark and Germany governments to plan funding for agriculture programmes in counties. Although Agriculture Secretary Felix Koskei was listed as a participant, he did not attend. No key Government official attended the meeting.

“It is surprising the central government is still budgeting our functions. It vindicates our position as governors that they want to take up our functions and still hold on the funds meant for devolution,” said Bomet County Governor and chairman of Governors’ Council Isaac Rutto.

He said any move by the central government concerning the counties had to be agreed upon between the two levels of governments. “Anything concerning functions touching on devolution has to have a concurrent agreement between the two.”

Makueni Governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana said the Rotich move on Thursday had tied the governors’ hands and left them unsure of what to do with items in their own budgets touching on agriculture.