A group of former members of county assemblies (MCAs) has launched a push to have national revenue allocation to devolved units increased from the current 15 percent to 40 percent.
Under the Kenya Former MCAs Association (KFMA), the ex-ward representatives have decried the continued frustration of devolution by the national government with resources failing to follow devolved functions.
The Association’s National Chairperson Martin Mworia said that it does not make sense for the national government to continue holding on to 85 percent of ordinary revenue raised in the country when most of the functions are being performed by county governments.
The association, whose primary mission is to safeguard the welfare of its members while promoting and entrenching devolution, is made up of more than 3,000 former MCAs who served between 2013 and 2022.
The former Nyaki West MCA cited an example of health and agriculture functions which are more than 80 percent devolved yet the national government does not want to release a commensurate level of resources to the counties.
“How many hospitals are under the national government compared to those under the counties? Despite many of the health facilities being under the devolved units, the Health ministry was given Sh147 billion in the current financial year, more than a third of the entire funding to counties,” said Mr Mworia.
The budget for the Health ministry has been increasing every financial year with governors complaining of county health functions being starved of funds at the expense of the national functions with only national referral facilities or Level 6 hospitals under the ministry.
He also pointed out that counties are expected to contribute Sh250 million each for the roll out of the county aggregation and industrial parks setting them back by some Sh11.7 billion yet the national government has refused to release more shareable revenue to the devolved units.
He said that KFMA will sponsor a Bill before the Senate to compel the national government to raise shareable allocation to counties to 40 percent.
“We have agreed as an association to sponsor a referendum bill aimed at increasing the shareable revenue to counties from the current 15 percent to an ambitious 40 percent,” the ex-MCA said.
“As the pioneers of devolution, we see no need to leave 85 percent of revenue raised nationally to the central government yet most functions are now being performed by counties.”
He said they will engage with key stakeholders, including the Senate, National Assembly, Council of Governors, Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council, various agencies, embassies, NGOs, political parties and national leaders to foster a grassroots-driven national dialogue.
“Let the billions being put under constituency development fund as well as the road maintenance levy fund go to counties to spur growth at the grassroots level. Let the funds be devolved to empower the people from the ward level,” said the former MCA.
Senators have clashed with their counterparts in the National Assembly over the management of the CDF with the former calling for its scrapping.
In the current financial year, CDF was allocated Sh61.2 billion, accounting for more than 15 percent of total funds from shareable revenue going to counties, despite counties suffering about Sh20 billion funding slash following the withdrawal of the controversial Finance Bill 2024.
“Why is it easy to cut Sh20 billion from county allocations, but not touch NG-CDF, which has been declared unconstitutional by the courts? If the court ruling was implemented, you would have enough funds for the counties,” said Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale in a past interview.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga recently waded into the debate, calling for CDF funds to be given to counties alongside the road maintenance levy, and accusing MPs of being an obstacle to devolution of funds to counties.
“In alignment with Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s vision, KFMA supports reassigning funds from MPs’ Constituency Development Fund to empower local MCAs and governors, ensuring resources reach the counties effectively,” said Mr Mworia.
He added that the association is also advocating for the recognition of former MCAs, highlighting their essential contributions to Kenya’s governance narrative.
“MPs get pension yet MCAs are not taken care of no matter the number of terms they serve. Welfare of MCAs must, going forward, also be treated as a priority.”
