This archive report was first published on 5 June 2020.
Published on June 5, 2020, the Council of Governors (CoG) has called for the immediate release of Sh76 billion owed to counties by the national government.
CoG chairman Governor Wycliffe Oparanya stated that the national exchequer had only disbursed Sh240 billion of the Sh316 billion allocated to counties in the current financial year, which is set to end in 27 days.
The lack of disbursement has caused a delay in staff salaries, Governor Oparanya said, adding that counties in the Western and North Rift regions are experiencing floods, leading to population displacement and increased risk of water-borne diseases and malaria.
CoG has also called for trucks to be stopped from leaving the port of Mombasa until the backlog at the border points is cleared, citing the example of the road leading to Malaba border, which has trucks stretching up to Luandeti, spanning across three counties of Busia, Bungoma, and Kakamega.
“We call upon the president to intervene in this matter and propose that no more trucks should be allowed to leave the port of Mombasa until the backlog at the border points is cleared,” Governor Oparanya said.
CoG has also decried the increase in incidents of police brutality while enforcing the curfew, with Governor Oparanya stating that governors and other elected leaders will continue to engage the Ministry of Interior and IPOA to ensure justice for the victims of police brutality.
