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Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has said the national government will disburse an additional Sh32 billion to county governments.
Speaking Friday when he chaired the 25th Ordinary Session of the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC), Kindiki said the disbursement will be for the month of November, which is still owed to the counties.
He added that the funds owed to equalization fund will also be disbursed.
“The council appreciates the expedited action of the National Treasury of disbursing funds to county governments and notes that an additional Sh32 billion is due to be disbursed by to the county governments on or by Thursday, December 19, 2024, being the amount due for November 2024.
“Further that the National Treasury prioritises disbursement of arrears accruing to the equalisation fund,” Kindiki said while briefing the media on the resolutions reached during the IBEC meeting.
Kindiki said the council also called for a conclusive transfer and gazettement of functions agreed upon by both levels of government by December 13, 2024.
"The unbundling and transfer of functions that have already been agreed upon between the national and county governments be expedited for conclusion and gazettement by today, December 13, 2024, and that sectoral engagements be immediately undertaken to bring to resolution all other functions pending consensus that are before the Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee."
IBEC urged the National Treasury to fast track amendments through Parliament of sections 110, 191 A to E of the Public Finance Management Act, 2012, to facilitate ease of access to conditional grants by county governments.
It was also agreed that county governments enhance revenue collection mechanisms by strengthening administrative processes, adopting innovative and long term approaches to broaden the revenue base and implementing measures to minimise leakages.
The council also tasked the Deputy President’s office to convene a meeting between both levels of government to resolve the several issues of concern.
These include the ICRMS system for revenue collection, outstanding disbursements arising from the county government additional allocation 2023-2024, fast tracking of the mediation for the 2024-25 county government additional allocation bill currently before Parliament, and the mechanism to isolate donor funds to secure their distinctive disbursement to county governments.
IBEC further resolved to have all institutions give priority to the implementation of its resolutions and establish monitoring systems for effective tracking and reporting.
Both levels of government were also tasked with promoting effective coordination, cooperation and consultation in the implementation of their mandates to insulate devolution and service delivery guided by the spirit of cordial and amicable settlement of concerns.
