Delegates at the third annual devolution conference that ended in Meru on Friday passed 18 resolutions seeking to entrench devolution and hand over all devolved functions to county governments.
Some of the contested functions lie under water, health, and irrigation sectors.
The resolutions that emanated from the three-day third annual devolution conference were read by Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya, who is also the Council of Governors’ vice-chairman.
The CoG chairman Peter Munya had raised concern over what he said is sustained resistance by the national government to release devolved functions or fund some of them.
He cited the channelling of funds through ministries and national agencies as part of the scheme to derail devolution.
The conference also resolved that an intergovernmental relations committee should be established to audit all parastatals and the laws that handle their functions.
They also want all State corporations restructured to be aligned with the devolved system of government.
Governors wanted the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (Kemsa) to be transformed to an inter-county entity since it purchases drugs for counties.
“We resolve that long-term devolution sustainability framework and mechanisms should be established.” the resolution document read.
PROGRESSIVE INCREASE
They further resolved that equitable shareable revenue to county governments should be increased progressively.
“The conference has resolved that devolution gains should be safeguarded through fiduciary, functional, policy and legislative interventions and ethical practices,” it read.
Governors further want the National Treasury to put in place mechanisms for expeditious disbursement of funds to county governments to ensure uninterrupted service delivery.
The National Treasury came under fire during the conference on accusations of delaying allocation of funds to counties.
To address the resource sharing dispute, delegates also agreed that the criteria for revenue allocation under Article 203 of the Constitution should be clarified with regard to national interest and obligations.
Mr Munya had cited the allocation of billions to the National Youth Service in disregard of national interest functions being handled by county governments.
Citing immunisation, the delegates called for a review of agreements on transfer of functions between national and county governments.
The conference also wants the Inter-governmental Relations Technical Committee (IGRTC) strengthened to perform its functions and complete the remaining functions of the Transitional Authority.
Other resolutions made are for national and county governments to increase funding for ICT and align civic education and public participation in counties with that of the national government.
Social inequalities in counties are also to be addressed through targeted allocations of funds to relevant sectors and all stakeholders to engage proactively in the fight against corruption.
Mr Munya described the conference as a success, announcing that next year’s conference would either be held in Kericho or Narok.
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