Governor Barasa: Delayed release of county funds hurting development

Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa now wants the national government to expedite the release of Sh52 billion owed to counties for November and December 2023.

Barasa noted that the delay has affected service delivery which is solely dependent on the availability of development funds.

“As the Chair of Finance at COG, I appeal to the national Treasury to release monies owed to counties. According to the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act, we should be receiving the funds by the 15th of every month,” Barasa said.

Barasa was speaking when he commissioned ward-based projects in the six wards constituted in Lurambi Sub County.

He noted that the persistent delay in disbursement of funds to the devolved units has slowed development across various sectors.

“There is no need for us to keep delaying paying our staff, our doctors, buying drugs and equipping ECD centres because of treasury. Please release the funds so we can facilitate development at the grassroots level,” he said.

Barasa commissioned the launch of construction of 60km roads in Butsotso South- Eshianda C.O.G - Omuyinda stream - Eshurumba Road, Butsotso Central ward got International Sch (Emurumba Friends Church)- Lunyu stream - Munzeyiuwe junction road.

In Butsotso East ward, there is ACK Holy Trinity Shikoti Road while Shieywe ward had Sichirayi P.A.G - Mulunyu - Emulele - Mulunyu Junction - Ebwambwa Road.

Mahiakalo ward will have Mahiakalo Pri. Junction - Show ground - Nyayo Tea Zone - Shikulu junction upgraded to bitumen standards and Shirere Ward had Amalemba C.O.G - Shivakala Primary School Road.

Lurambi MP Titus Khamala hit out at the exchequer as he decried not receiving a single coin for the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) since July 1, 2023.

“It is only possible if the Treasury will stop their cat and mouse games with us, we are Kenyans, we pay taxes and we are not beggars. We cannot beg the treasury to release what belongs to us,” Khamala said.

He faulted Treasury CS Njuguna Ndung’u for what he termed as a deliberate plan to frustrate school-going kids and parents who depend on constituency bursaries.

Earlier this month lawmakers criticized a government memo dated January 4, 2023, directed to CDF account managers nationwide, explaining that the funds could not be released due to amendments to the CDF Act.