Governors and top government officials will converge in Naivasha for the next three weeks as they try to unlock the standoff that has hindered transfer of pending devolved functions.

The meeting, which started yesterday, comes even after Devolution Principal Secretary Teresia Mbaika warned that counties may be forced to wait until 2025 to start receiving functions worth Sh272.2 billion worth of resources for the pending functions.

She said that although they intend to arrive at a consensus and gazette the agreed upon functions before March, the other process will take some more time.

The PS said that the transfer will not be an easy process as seen by many since it  will require key stakeholders including cabinet and national and county government summit before gazzettement.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us. The meeting in Naivasha will actually pave the way for the next difficult process. We are not only talking about transfer but even the resources required to accompany the functions. We don’t want to have confusion after transfer has happened. It will take time but we believe finally counties will have what is theirs,” she said.

Contested functions

At the centre of the stalemate are 12 functions that are still being handled by the national government while they should be devolved.

The sectors are health, energy, trade, regional development, agriculture, housing , public works, urban development, education, disaster management and environment.

A report by the Inter-Governmental Technical Relations Committee, the authority at the heart of the transfer reveals that the national government is still performing various elements of at least 10 devolved functions.

“After gazzetting,we have to agree what budgetary resources need to be rationalised, staff to move from national to county governments, capacity building and key structures that should be streamlined,” said Chair IGRTC Kithinji Kiragu.

Kiragu said that the current figure  of Sh272 billion being touted was based on costing done by different sectors technical groups but Treasury is yet to prove the actual figure.

Ensuring continuity

Last week, Governors convened a key meeting to discuss teething devolution challenges amid battles with the national government over functions and funds.

While the governors want the functions and the accompanying budget released, some state departments have opposed the move.

Key highlights of the meeting in the next three weeks will be the Managed Equipment Services  programme.

 This after the Ministry of Health and a select committee of CoG recommended extension of the programme contracts by a six months. The contracts expired last month.

 The move is aimed at ensuring continuity of services as the counties prepare to transition from the leasing arrangement.

The devolved units are seeking to transition from the programme that involves leasing of medical equipment to select county and national government hospitals.

 In the meeting held at the Kenya School of Government last Thursday, Health CS Susan Nakhumicha and CoG select team led by Coucil of Governors (CoG ) chairperson Anne Waiguru met MES vendors where they agreed to extend the contract.

 “We continue to make great strides in reaching a consensus on how to handle the Managed Equipment Services with intent to ensure continuity of services,” CoG Health committee chairman Muthomi Njuki said after the meeting.

In addition, the governors will discuss a proposal by the Commission on Revenue Allocation to allocate the devolved units Sh398.14 billion for the 2024-25 financial year.

 “The allocation of Sh398.14 billion is equivalent to 23.7 per cent of the most recent audited and approved accounts,” CRA chairperson Mary Chebukati said late last year.

The governors also want CRA to work on the formula for sharing benefits from natural resources.

 They also want the state to transfer resources for the museums and libraries functions.

 “CRA committed to consider the council’s submission and respond before its finalisation,” the council said.