The Council of Governors (CoG) has raised concerns over the delay by the national government to release funds to the counties.
According to COG's health committee chairperson Governor Muthomi Njuki, failure by the Treasury to release the funds has led to crucial services especially in the health being crippled.
Muthomi who doubles up as Tharaka Nithi Governor said it was regrettable that their equitable share was now crossing the Sh100 billion mark, a few days to the end of the 2023/2024 financial year.
"As it stands now, counties have not received their equitable share from the National Government for three months, including June, yet, the IFMIS system reportedly slows down from mid-June," he said.
He said that counties would not hesitate to clear debts owed to Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) immediately after they receive their share of revenue.
"National Government should settle the Sh2 billion pledge to KEMSA to capacitate the medical agency," Njuki said .
KEMSA says counties owe them about Sh3 billion in arrears.
Njuki said that the messaging around the debts owed by counties to KEMSA, had the hallmarks of a well thought out and executed scheme, keen on painting counties in bad blood.
"If the National Government stuck to the law and gave us our resources on the 15th of every month, no county would be having KEMSA debt," Njuki said .
Njuki said that a debt is not bad but the agreement they have with KEMSA allows counties a 90 day repayment period.
"Doesn't that marry with the period counties haven't received their equitable share,? Njuki questioned.
Njuki said that there has been a clamor by some officials at the national government to take over the health function and manage it from Nairobi as was before the advent of the 2010 constitution, but governors have stayed put, variously expressing gains made under devolution.
