Senators decry slow transfer of devolved assets, call out technical committee for inaction
The transfer of assets related to the defunct local authorities and those tied to devolved functions remains incomplete, leaving counties unable to fully take charge of key infrastructure.
Senators have called on the national government to speed up the transfer of devolved assets, blaming the Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee for the ongoing delays.
The Senate County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee has decried that only outdated and condemned movable assets, such as motorcycles, have been transferred, while valuable assets remain with the national government.
County governors have long complained about the slow pace of asset handovers, a process that has been pending since the passage of the 2010 Constitution.
The transfer of assets related to the defunct local authorities and those tied to devolved functions remains incomplete, leaving counties unable to fully take charge of key infrastructure.
Senate County Public Investments and Special Funds Chairperson Godfrey Osotsi expressed his frustration over the situation, stating that the delays in transferring fixed assets are becoming a growing concern.
“The Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee is proving to be ineffective in handling this matter. As the Council of Governors, you need to explore alternative ways to resolve this issue,” Osotsi, who also serves as the ODM deputy party leader, said.
Osotsi further criticised the committee for only facilitating the transfer of old or condemned movable assets, such as motorcycles, leaving behind valuable assets that could help counties function effectively.
"Sleeping on the job"
“This committee is going to take the matter up because the intergovernmental relations technical committee has been sleeping on its job,” he said.
Elgeyo Marakwet Senator William Kisang echoed these concerns, calling on the Senate to intervene and create a resolution that would compel the National Treasury to act swiftly in transferring the remaining assets.
“We need to come up with a motion compelling the Treasury to transfer these assets within a specific timeframe. Otherwise, this issue will remain an audit query indefinitely,” Kisang said.
“We can give them six months to act on the resolution and ensure that all remaining assets are handed over to the counties.”
Last year in May, former Devolution Principal Secretary Teresia Mbaika announced that the Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee had successfully transferred movable assets worth Sh3 billion to county governments. The handover, which included 8,000 items, such as motor vehicles and equipment, was completed in August 2023.
Mbaika highlighted that 2,617 vehicles had been transferred, with 1,755 of them serviceable and 838 unserviceable. These included saloon cars, lorries, vans, motorbikes, pick-ups, tractors, boats, ferries, combined harvesters, ambulances and trucks.
However, she noted that the valuation and transfer of fixed assets, including land and buildings, were still in progress, with ongoing efforts to finalise the process.
The land in question, classified as public land, includes parcels intended for municipal, town, and county council offices.
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