County assemblies say staring at financial crisis after Sh4 billion budget cut
MCAs have vowed to push for urgent interventions to ensure counties remain financially stable and legislative operations continue without disruption.
Members of county assemblies (MCAs) and Speakers of all 47 regional Houses have urged the national government to intervene and prevent the assemblies from collapsing due to budget cuts.
Speaking during a special general assembly in Nairobi, the leaders called on MPs and the President to address the financial crisis, which they say threatens legislative functions at the county level.
They demanded financial autonomy, reinstatement of sitting allowances, and entrenchment of the Ward Development Fund in the Constitution to ensure sustainable funding for county assemblies.
Chairperson of the County Assemblies Forum Ann Kiusya expressed concern over the Sh4 billion budget cuts introduced through the County Allocation of Revenue Act (CARA), saying they would destabilise operations.
"The abrupt mid-year budget cuts will disrupt ongoing programmes, legislative processes, and critical public participation efforts. The Senate should initiate an amendment of CARA to reverse the Sh4 billion budget cut," Kiusya said.
CARA, signed into law in December 2024, reduced county assembly budgets by Sh4 billion while increasing county executive allocations by Sh7 billion. This adjustment followed the collapse of the Finance Bill, 2024, despite an overall increase of Sh2 billion in county revenue shares.
Counties facing the most severe budget cuts include Nairobi (Sh327.4 million), Kiambu (Sh229 million), Wajir (Sh208 million), and Turkana (Sh196 million).
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, the event's chief guest, reassured MCAs that the County Public Finance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023, is in its final stages. He said the Bill would grant ward legislators financial autonomy.
"We call for fast-tracking of the Bill so that MCAs can send requisitions to the Controller of Budget instead of being at the mercy of governors," Sifuna said.
MCAs have vowed to push for urgent interventions to ensure counties remain financially stable and legislative operations continue without disruption.
Top Stories Today
