Senators ask State to stop meddling in county affairs, devolved functions

Senators have asked the national government to stop interfering with devolved functions.

At the same time the lawmakers want the national government to fully devolve all functions assigned to counties.

Agriculture, including crop and animal husbandry, livestock sale yards, county abattoirs, plant and animal disease control, fisheries as well as health services, cultural activities, public entertainment and public amenities, county transport and planning are some of the devolved functions in accordance to Fourth Schedule of the Constitution.

In an interview with People Daily yesterday, Kirinyaga Senator Charles Kibiru, who chairs the Committee on Finance and Budget, said the National Treasury should rationalise the national government budgets for all devolved functions and the funds transferred to county governments.

“It is ironic that ministries continue to get huge allocations when those functions have already been devolved. We request that should be reversed and money due to counties be given to them,” Kibiru said.

His sentiments were echoed by Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot, who said the Ministry of Health had become notorious for its continued retention of colossal amounts of funds that should have been devolved to the counties.

“However, for purposes of controlling procurement and ensuring that mandarins in both the National Treasury and Afya House get kickbacks, they retain this money as a pool and dish it out in different parts of the country whether they need it or not,” said Cheruiyot.

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei accused the national government of undermining agriculture, accusing it of still doing the functions that have been devolved citing livestock, fisheries, agriculture sector, water and sanitation, irrigation among others.

“These are some of the things that have already been devolved as per the Chapter Four of the Constitution,” said Cherargei.

Marsabit Senator Hargura Godana claimed the national government has retained most of the functions like health and water.