Funds delay threat to devolution, Munya warns

The Council of Governors Chairman, Peter Munya, has warned that the continued delay by the national government to release funds meant for the counties is posing a threat to devolution.

Munya said the delay in transferring the funds to counties has stalled development projects in the 47 counties hence hampering their smooth operation.

The Meru governor insisted that the national government has only released cash for salaries, an action that threatens to stall county operations.

Munya was speaking after signing a memorandum of understanding with the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNHCR) to promote human rights in counties.

His remarks come barely a week after he accused Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich of giving false information about money released to the counties.

The COG Chair noted that the national and counties finances are different kitties, and therefore counties should get what is theirs from the national treasury.

He added that there is a serious financial problem in the country, and the Finance Ministry should come clean on the matter as this would open doors for deliberations over possible solutions.

Munya further said that the government should cut its budget to a manageable size.

He called on the president to convene a meeting with the National Summit, which he chairs, to help come up with a better manageable budget.

Munya was reacting to Treasury CS Henry Rotich’s assertions to the Parliamentary Committee on Budget that Sh34 billion had been disbursed to the counties.

He said the cash flow problem was caused by the current slow financial quota, coupled with the tight liquidity globally.