This archive report was first published on 6 September 2019.
Published on September 6, 2019, the stalemate over county funding has reached a boiling point, with the Senate and National Assembly at odds over the allocation of funds.
The Constitution stipulates that counties receive at least 15% of the latest audited government income, but the actual allocation is often determined by those in authority.
Counties have failed to raise their own revenues, leaving them reliant on the whims of the National Treasury.
Given the significant functions assigned to counties, including healthcare management, it is imperative that they receive commensurate funding to deliver these services effectively.
The current system, where a single institution like the National Treasury determines allocations, is unsustainable and contradicts the principle of dispersal of powers across levels of government.
The Senate's decision to drop its hard stance and accept the National Assembly's proposal of Sh316 billion for counties is a welcome step towards resolving the impasse.
However, the underlying issues of corruption and wastefulness in counties must be addressed, and they must be held accountable for the use of funds.
It is despicable that county business was brought to a halt due to territorial wars between the two chambers of Parliament, leaving millions of citizens affected.
