Delaying county funds kills dreams and works against creation of jobs

The Treasury has released Sh18.2 billion to 18 counties to clear pending bills. Another 12 counties that had cleared their pending bills got Sh7.2 billion. This was after the Council of Governors accused the Treasury of acting unconstitutionally by withholding funds. The Treasury responded by saying they were acting that way after assessing financial discipline among the devolved units. It is unfortunate that two arms of government had to disagree in public over utilisation of public resources.

Kenyans expect honest and prudent use of their taxes, more so in counties because devolution was introduced to accelerate development at the grassroots. Hitherto marginalised regions hope to benefit directly from devolution and solve debilitating poverty, basic health challenges and poor infrastructure through devolution. That is why they voted for the Constitution during the 2010 referendum. Thus, withholding or misusing funds sent to the counties is tantamount to killing that dream.