Deputy President Kithure Kindiki on Monday moved in to resolve the revenue access and expenditure approval row between governors and the Controller of Budget (COB).
In a meeting held at his official residence in Karen, Nairobi, Kindiki said regular consultations are critical between the devolved units and the COB to iron out any misunderstandings.
He noted that such engagements will increase accountability and efficiency in service delivery to the people of Kenya.
The meeting comes a few days after governors raised the issues during the 25th Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) meeting chaired by the DP on Friday last week.
It is reported that governors were very furious with the Controller of Budget at the meeting over the issue of county governments having multiple bank accounts.
This forced DP Kindiki to intervene by calling for a meeting between the governors and the COB.
Some of the issues that had been raised by the CoG and the COB touched on the current mechanism for approval of withdrawal of funds and multiple accounts held by county governments and the perceptions arising from the COB quarterly reports.
“Frequent consultations to iron out misunderstandings between County Governments and independent offices like the Controller of Budget are important for greater efficiency, accountability, and effective service delivery,” the Deputy President said.
“Recent misunderstandings between County Governments Margaret Nyakango and the Controller of Budget on the quarterly reports, absorption of development expenditure, and approval of withdrawals from the County Revenue Fund Account require urgent resolution to ensure harmonious service delivery by County Governments,” he added.
The meeting was attended by the Controller of Budget and the leadership of the Council of Governors, including Ahmed Abdullahi (Chairman), Mutahi Kahiga (Vice Chairman), Fernandes Barasa (Chairman, Finance Committee), Stephen Sang (Whip), Ochilo Ayacko (Chairman, Legal Committee), and Mary Mwiti (CEO of CoG).
Also present were John Mbadi (Cabinet Secretary, National Treasury and Economic Planning), Dorcas Oduor (Attorney General), Teresia Mbaika (Principal Secretary, Devolution), Dr. Margaret Nyakang’o (Controller of Budget) and other senior government officials.
In the IBEC meeting, it was also agreed that Kindiki also help resolve issues around the ICRMS system for revenue collection, Outstanding disbursements arising from the County Government Additional Allocation 2023/2024, Fast racking of mediation for the 2024/25 CGAA Bill currently before Parliament, and the mechanism to isolate donor funds and secure their distinctive disbursement to County Governments.
