Rift counties score highly on prudent funds use

Bomet Governor Dr Joyce Laboso. [Standard]

Eight counties in Rift Valley region were rated highly on prudent use of funds under the County Annual Capacity and Performance Assessment report that was released last week.

The assessment was done based on funds allocated to the counties under the World Bank-funded Kenya Devolution Support Programme (KDSP) in the 2017/2018 financial year.

Bomet topped the eight counties in the region that will now be among the 21 devolved units that will this year get Sh3.8 billion from the World Bank for prudent use of public resources.

Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich, in a Gazette notice, announced the allocation of the conditional grants to the eligible county governments under the KDSP programme.

In the report released on Friday last week, Bomet County was ranked third out of the 47 counties after Nyandarua and Nyeri which came in first and second with 87 and 84 points respectively.

Bomet had 83 points followed closely by Elgeyo-Marakwet at number four with 79 points.

Despite Bomet having come third countrywide, it does not feature in Gazette notice that lists how much each of the 21 counties will get.

According to the Gazette notice, Narok County is set to get Sh185 million, Elgeyo-Marakwet Sh169 million, Laikipia Sh161 million and Baringo Sh138 million. Uasin Gishu County will get Sh102 million, Nakuru Sh100 million and Trans Nzoia Sh95 million.

Bomet Governor Dr Joyce Laboso said she was impressed by her county’s performance where it was ranked third out of 47 counties with 83 per cent compared to 37 per cent scored in the 2016/2017 financial year.

Dr Laboso attributed the leap in the county’s ratings to the prudent use of county resources by her administration.

KDSP is a four-year US$200 million (Sh20 billion) programme financed by the World Bank to support capacity building and technical assistance at the county level.