Senate backs MCAs push for financial autonomy

Senators have backed a push by Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) to amend the law to give regional assemblies financial autonomy.

The MCAs have been pushing for amendments to the law to compel the National Treasury to send funds directly to county assemblies.
Currently, the assemblies must get approval from the executive when placing requisition for funds to the Controller of Budget.

The senators claim that the county assemblies’ lack of financial independence continues to be a big threat in the functionality of county assemblies.

The Committee on Finance and Budget and that on Devolution and Intergovernmental relations have resolved to propose an amendment of the Public Finance Management Act, 2012 to give the ward reps financial independence.

“The county assemblies just like the Senate and they play the primary oversight role at the lowest level. We are aware that county governments and governors are normally not comfortable with independent and functional county assemblies,” Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei said.