By Patrick Beja
The countdown to the establishment of the 47 county governments has began with the induction of members of the County Transition Authority.
The members said they expected to be ready with a workplan on how to implement the devolved system of government by December.
The authority was installed last month to assist transition to devolution.
Authority chairman Kinuthia wa Mwangi said the induction workshop at the Pangoni Beach Resort in Mombasa would outline the workplan, priorities and target.
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“We are happy that the Finance Bill is ready. We want to oversee the sharing of resources and revenues as well as establishment of physical facilities for county governments,” he said.
Mr Mwangi said the authority would encourage civil servants to take up opportunities in county governments where service delivery will be centred.
Local Government PS Karega Mutahi allayed fears that workers in local authorities could lose their jobs during the transition period.
He said all staff of the local authorities would be accommodated in the transition arrangement to the county governments.
“Nobody should be worried of job loss. The Government will, however, match the skills with the assignments in the county governments,” Prof Mutahi said.
Mutahi said the regulations on devolved government will be enacted before the end of this year. The PS said civic education was being carried out to demystify devolution to the public officers, adding that more 250 trainer of trainers from central and local government to carry out civic education.
According to the PS, governors will appoint county boards to be approved by county assemblies to carry out functions of the present local authorities. In the towns, committee would also be appointed to run the areas under devolution.
“The human and financial functions will be devolved and workers will be transferred to perform their duties there. They are not going to lose their benefits,” he said.
The meeting was also attended by Public Service PS Titus Ndambuki and acting Justice PS Mr Gichira Kibara.
Mutahi said the County Government Act which replaces the Local Government Act Chapter 265 would directly impact on local authorities as they are currently.
