The Council of governors has issued demands to the government of President William Ruto following a meeting the county chiefs held on Monday, December 5.
Through the CoG chairperson Governor Anne Waiguru, they urged the government to issue additional budgetary resources to County Governments for the renewal of contracts for Universal Health Coverage – UHC staff at the market rate salaries.
“The payroll Management for the UHC staff should also be transferred to County Governments,” Waiguru stated in a statement sent to newsrooms.
The governors also decried interference with service delivery in the health sector, yet it was a devolved function as enshrined in the Constitution.
Regarding Kenya’s contract with the government of Cuba over doctors, CoG is set to convene a meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Health Susan Nakhumicha Wafula with a view to reviewing performance, terms and conditions of engagement of the current cohort of medics.
“We urge the Ministry of Health to fast track engagement of doctors for 6 counties that did not receive the support,” the statement signed by Waiguru read in part.
The governors further called upon the National Treasury to expedite the disbursement of the monies owed to the 47 devolved units to ensure that service delivery.
“Currently, the 47 County Governments are owed Ksh29.6 billion for October and Ksh31.45 billion for November 2022 allocations.
We therefore call upon the National Treasury to expedite the disbursement of the monies owed to ensure that service delivery in the Counties,” Waiguru stated.
They also proposed a 15 per cent increase of the projected revenue growth in the FY 2023/24 and hence allocate a minimum of Ksh425 billion to counties. The Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) had recommended Ksh407 billion in the FY 2023/24 which is a 10% increase from the current Ksh370 billion on the Vertical Sharing of Revenue.
“We, therefore, call upon the Controller of Budget to stop being a bottleneck to this critical process and allow room for the Counties to implement their budgets.
On execution of decrees against County Governments, they noted hat Governors have been targeted for arrest in execution of orders against County Governments which is contrary to the law.
“We wish to bring to the attention of the public the provision of section 21 Governments Proceedings Act 26 of 2015 which stipulates the manner in which orders against County Governments should be satisfied.
Of particular importance is the requirement that no person including Excellency Governors should be personally liable under any order for payment by the County Government.”
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE