County assemblies warn of service disruptions after Sh4.2 billion budget cut
The reduction brings the total budget ceiling for the 47 county assemblies down from Sh40.6 billion in the previous financial year to Sh36.4 billion.
County assemblies have raised concerns over a Sh4.2 billion cut to their budget allocations, which they warn could paralyse their operations within weeks.
The reduction brings the total budget ceiling for the 47 county assemblies down from Sh40.6 billion in the previous financial year to Sh36.4 billion in the current one.
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In contrast, the Senate has approved a Sh7.93 billion increase for county executives, raising their recurrent budget by 30.7 per cent.
County Assemblies Forum (CAF) Chairman Philemon Sabulei expressed strong opposition to the budget cuts, claiming that they are aimed at frustrating ward representatives and disrupting crucial operations.
"We cannot reduce our budgets when county assemblies have been spending money based on previous allocations. The cuts will strain the ability of the assemblies to meet payroll obligations, risking salary delays and demoralising staff," he said.
Sabulei added that the reduction in funding would hurt critical functions such as audits, inspections, reporting, and oversight activities.
The forum also noted that some assemblies will lose more than 20 per cent of their budgets.
Among the hardest-hit counties are Nairobi, Kiambu, Wajir, and Turkana, with each facing cuts of over Sh190 million.
Despite receiving less than 10 per cent of the revenue allocated to devolved governments, county assemblies are expected to bear nearly 30 per cent of the budget cuts imposed on county governments.
"This disproportionate burden raises questions about the fairness and equity of the proposed adjustments," Sabulei said.
The cutbacks are expected to disrupt a range of services, including public participation, oversight, pending bills, and employee salaries.
The County Allocation of Revenue Bill, 2024, which President William Ruto assented to yesterday (Friday), allocates Sh387.4 billion in revenue among the 47 counties, in line with the formula under Article 217 of the Constitution.
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