The Council ofs (COG) is pushing for increased allocation of funds to the devolved units to at least Sh536 billion in the 2025/2026 financial year.
Governor Fernandes Barasa, the COG Chair of Finance, Planning and Economic Affairs Committee, said that it can be achieved following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) between President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to address Kenya’s sociopolitical challenges.
One of the commitments in the agreement was a proposal for the national government to allocate not less than Sh450 billion during the 2025/2026 financial year.
“So our position is that we are expecting the national government to show some political goodwill,” the governor noted.
He asked President William Ruto to honor the agreement that was signed to support devolution.
“In the agreement it was clear that all devolved units must be given enough funds to be able to implement projects and to fulfil the desires of residents. We want those funds to be factored in the budget in the next financial year,” he noted.
Speaking at Bukhungu Stadium during the swearing-in of County Public Service Board Members on Wednesday, Governor Barasa appreciated the senate for pushing for proper funding of counties noting that they have demonstrated their commitment to strengthening devolution.
“We must provide for non-discretionary expenses; the expenses arising from the national legislation, Social Health Authority(SHA), Housing Levy among others. We must also make a provision for adjustment due to revenue growth of 5.3 percent, amounting to Sh21 billion,” he explained.
The governor assured Kakamega residents that his administration will ensure that all the projects that are under construction are completed before the 2027 general election.
“We are collaborating with the national government to complete the construction of Bukhungu International Stadium which will be completed by June 2026,” he noted.
Governor Barasa said that President Ruto made a commitment while in Kakamega to make sure that Kakamega Level 6 Hospital is completed.
“I have been in touch with the Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale who has assured me that the hospital will be completed. All other projects that we are doing including Shamakhubu Hospital and the Butere Level 4 will be completed,” he pointed out.
The governor announced a series of development tours from next week where he will be launching various development projects in the wards in collaboration with Members of County Assembly (MCAs).
He said among the projects to be launched is the Misango Hills Water project in Khwisero subcounty, and later in the month launch the issuance of social protection grants to self-help groups.
The Social Protection Grants were unveiled in the 2023/2024 financial year where the county government disbursed Sh50 million that benefited 900 groups, each getting Sh50,000.
For early childhood education, the governor said the county government has spent Sh17 million to procure desks and tables to improve the learning environment in the ECDE centres.
“We want our children in the ECDEs to have a conducive learning environment,” he noted.
He urged contractors who are constructing the ECDE centres across the county to complete and hand them over to the county government for use by June.
“From next week I shall be moving around to issue top dressing fertiliser to over 150,000 widows and vulnerable families in the county. That is the focus we have in order to produce enough food,” he noted.
By Moses Wekesa
