Governors have flagged a myriad of problems affecting the smooth running of devolved units.

Speaking during their induction conference at a Mombasa hotel yesterday, the county bosses lamented that they have inherited counties clouded with irregular employments, bloated workforce, pending bills, and intrusion of provision administration among other challenges.

The situation, the governors stated, had affected service delivery.

Kisii Governor Simba Arati, for instance, told the forum that he inherited a bloated workforce which consumes over 62 per cent of the budget just on salaries.

Arati was reacting to remarks by Commission on Administrative Justice Chairperson Florence Kajuju, who cautioned them against flouting the laws on employment.

“You say we must follow all the laws on employment yet some of us have inherited staff who consume over 62 per cent of the county budget. Where will I get money to pay them without cutting costs,” posed Arati.

Similarly, Garissa’s Nadhif Jama said he inherited over 7,000 irregularly appointed workers with the wage bill going beyond the required 35 percent of the budget.

Wajir’s Ahmed Abdullahi complained about the “unreasonable quantum of pending bills incoming governors have to contend with.”

At the same time, Abdullahi said new administrations face difficulties in forming their own Cabinets as County Executives rush to court to challenge any attempt to remove them.

“When you try to remove these CECs and Chief Officers of the previous regimes, they will take you to court because some of them had their contracts renewed recently. What is the remedy to the situation?” he posed.

Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga raised concerns about a growing list of elderly county staff, who she said are reluctant to seek retirement over uncertainty about pension and send-off package.

Kisumu’s Anyang Nyong’o separately raised concern over the meddling of the provincial administration in matters devolution, saying as per the Constitution, the structure of provincial administration is illegal.