Devolution ministry accused of withholding funds

Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar speaking at an event in Mombasa on March 6, 2015. FILE PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• Senators say funds meant for youth projects should be devolved.
• Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar Hassan said counties have been transformed for the better due to the devolved funds

By NATION REPORTER
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Senators have accused the government of holding onto funds meant for counties, and they say that has affected service delivery.

Senators now want an audit of the budget to be conducted to determine the exact amount of money set aside for devolved functions that has not been released.

“Money should follow functions to ensure that operations at the counties do not grind to a halt due to inadequate funds,” said Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen.

He observed that some devolved functions like health were still underfunded yet they were critical in the development of counties.

The senators particularly cited the Ministry of Devolution, saying funds meant for youth projects should be devolved because the projects undertaken by the National Youth Service (NYS) are done in counties.

“More than Sh100 million from the NYS budget could have gone to counties because building of dams and water pans happens at the county level,” Mr Murkomen (URP) said. The total allocation for counties was Sh287 billion for the 2015/16 financial year against Sh 991.89 billion allocated to the national government.

COMPLEMENT REGIONS

Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar Hassan said counties have been transformed for the better due to the devolved funds and much can be done if the national government complements the county operations.

“We want to know how much of the national resources end up undertaking county functions,” said Mr Hassan.