
In a significant development for devolution in Kenya, President William Ruto announced the gazettement of various county functions during the 11th National and County Governments Coordinating Summit held at State House Nairobi on Monday.
The President directed that the necessary funds accompany these functions in the upcoming financial year beginning in July.
The transfer of functions was facilitated by the Inter-Governmental Relations Technical Committee (IGRTC), which is responsible for establishing frameworks for cooperation between national and county governments. President Ruto urged the committee to systematically identify and transfer the budgetary resources related to these functions in the next fiscal year.
“I want to emphasize that the challenges facing counties are not due to a lack of commitment to devolution but are temporary issues stemming from inherited fiscal vulnerabilities,” he stated. He called for improved inter-governmental relations to ensure effective devolution, which is vital for the nation’s socio-economic transformation agenda.
The President pledged to engage consistently with county governments, aiming for alignment on strategic agendas. He also encouraged ministries and agencies at both levels to expedite dispute resolution, highlighting that many disputes are now being referred to the IGRTC for resolution.
President Ruto pointed out the importance of collaboration between the two levels of government, especially in key areas such as agriculture, food security, and universal health coverage. He noted progress in stabilizing the economy, with inflation dropping to a historic low of 2.8%.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki emphasized that devolution is critical in bringing services closer to the people. Council of Governors Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi echoed this sentiment, advocating for sustainable development that prioritizes grassroots decision-making.
The commitment to enhancing devolution reflects the government’s focus on creating a more responsive and effective system that serves the needs of all Kenyans.