Civil society rejects County Allocation of Revenue Bill, warns of financial crisis if passed

Civil society organisations (CSOs) in the coastal region have voiced their strong opposition to the 2024 County Revenue Allocation Bill, which proposes to reduce county funding from over Sh410 billion to Sh380 billion.

The groups argue that such a reduction would significantly undermine the operations of county governments.

The organisations warned that the proposed cuts would exacerbate the financial struggles of counties, which are yet to receive any disbursements for the 2024/2025 financial year.

"This decision will severely impact the functioning of our counties, especially considering they have received no funds so far," stated Zedikiah Adika, the chairperson of the Coastal CSOs.

"We urge the government to respect the recommendations of the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) and ensure adequate funding for counties."

Adika also called on the Senate to ensure full devolution of government functions as promised by President William Ruto.

"If the national government is serious about devolution, it must uphold its commitments and fully decentralize functions such as health and agriculture to the counties," he added.

Highlighting the importance of strengthening local institutions, Adika praised Mombasa County for its efforts to improve governance and financial management.

"Mombasa has made commendable progress, but there is still much to be done," he said, pointing out that the county executive is yet to establish a mandatory internal audit committee as required by the Auditor General and the Controller of Budget offices. "We will insist that this is implemented," he said.

Monitor facilities

The CSOs Network plans to monitor four health facilities in Mombasa County Mlaleo, Kongowea, Junda, and Maweni health centers to ensure they are equipped to provide high-quality services to residents.

"There has been some progress, but we still need more health officers and a better supply of medicines," Adika said.

The organisations also announced the launch of the third phase of the Timiza Ugatuzi project under the Kenya Devolution Programme (KDP), supported by UKAID.

"This initiative aims to make devolution more effective by improving service delivery and reducing poverty. We are focusing on several areas, including the county's own-source revenue, accountability, and effectiveness,” Adika said.

They are also advocating for more transparency in county governance. "We call for measures such as free live broadcasting of county assembly sessions, similar to what is done in Turkana County, to open up the legislative process to the public," Adika suggested.