Counties must strengthen fiscal guardrails or risk betraying the spirit of devolution

High level meeting between the Council of Governors and the Ministry of Health  to deliberate on key issues in the Sector including implementation of UHC and Transition of UHC staff. [Courtesy, CoG X]

Last week in the Senate, Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika faced a sobering interrogation on the state of her county’s financial governance. What emerged was not merely a local administrative lapse but a disturbing picture of systemic fragility within county governments across Kenya. The conversation, led by the Senate Public Accounts Committee, revealed that Nakuru County currently lacks a County Public Service Board, an Audit Committee, a Chief Officer of Finance, a qualified Head of Accounting Services, and even an approved Internal Audit Charter. In one sentence, the Chair summarised the problem: “Your financial management is in shambles.”

This is not just Nakuru’s problem. It is a national governance crisis that raises fundamental questions about devolution, accountability, and the stewardship of public resources.