Fernandes Barasa says delayed release of Sh90b county funds will affect service delivery

"I call upon the National Government to release the said equitable share to counties in line with the provisions of Article 219 of the Constitution. I have since communicated officially to the Principal Secretary National Treasury to process these arrears to enable Kenyans to continue enjoying services."

The sentiments come in the wake of an October report "Comprehensive Own Source Revenue Potential and Tax Gap Study of County Governments" by the Commission on Revenue Allocation and World Bank which says counties have the potential to collect up to Sh216b in revenue from their key revenue streams compared to the present Sh31b annually.

When governors met on December 5, they asked for the speedy release of the funds opposing the Treasury's proposal of giving it based on absorption rates of counties. They said the balances in different county revenue funds were not a result of under-absorption, but due to the delay by the Controller of Budget to approve requisitions.

The governors at the same time accused the office of the Controller of Budget of overreaching its mandate which caused the delays.