The Council of Governors has said they have not received any money from the national government for mitigation purposes of the pounding El Nino rains days after Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua announced that 10 billion shilling had been set aside for the devolved units.
“13 counties are owed Kshs. 10.17 Billion for the month of September,” she said, “”27 counties are owed Kshs. 19.64 Billion for the month of October.”
With more than 50 people killed and 80,000 displaced following the ravaging floods CoG Chairperson Anne Waiguru has reported that the national government still owes counties over Sh62.58 billion from the equitable share further stifling any county mitigation efforts.
“We note with concern public utterances that suggest that County Governments have received funds from the National Government to support the mitigation of the devastating impact of the El Nino Rains,” CoG Chairperson Anne Waiguru said.
This as Gachagua tightened the county government noose saying treasury will not remit any more monies to the counties after it disbursed 2.4 billion last week.
Speaking during the launch of the Development Partnership Forum, DP Gachagua described as a misconception the governors‘ claims that the national government had committed to offer direct financial support to counties for El Nino mitigation purposes.
On 30 September this year, Gachagua expressed full Gov’t commitment to deploy all resources including Kenya Defence Forces and National Youth Service and convene a technical committee to deal with the devastation and will meet development partners and the Kenya private sector alliance in mitigating the effect of El Nino rains.
The Council of Governors, an organization representing the 47 county governments of Kenya, issued a stern rebuke of the Deputy President’s statements, emphasizing the dire need for financial support to prepare for the anticipated El Nino rains.