Delay in transfer of functions affecting Constitution implementation, says Nyachae

KAKAMEGA: The Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution (CIC) wants the Transition Authority to finalise the transfer of devolved functions, saying delays have affected constitutional implementation at the county level.

Speaking in Kakamega after meeting Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and Members of the County Assembly, CIC Chairman Charles Nyachae blamed the suspicion between the two levels of government for delays in the full implementation of the Constitution.

"We are monitoring the grassroots especially to see what the counties are doing. Today we met the Kakamega County Assembly to find out what they are doing. We also met the governor and the Public Service Commission," Nyachae told The Standard during an interview.

"There is a delay that we don't understand. You know funds follow functions and when they are not gazetted and transferred then there are no funds to the counties," he added.

He identified roads and health as some of the functions that are yet to be devolved, two years since the devolved units came into existence.

Most counties are yet to receive funds meant for various projects thereby hampering their roles and mandate.

Oparanya said the Council of Governors will continue to question why some critical functions were yet to be transferred to county governments.

JOIN AUTHORITIES

"We specifically want critical ones such as roads and security transferred to counties because at times we engage in functions such as roads that are yet to be devolved," he said.

The governors want the Kenya Urban Roads Authority and the Kenya Rural Roads Authority to be joined and fully transferred to counties.

The county bosses also want roads under Kenya Wildlife Service and Kenya Forest Service handed over to counties. At least 10 functions are yet to be transferred.

They include personnel emoluments, agricultural training centres, agricultural mechanisation stations and technological development centres, mechanical and transport equipment fund, identification and implementation of rural electrification projects, management of rural electrification fund, development of isolated diesel station and the roads.