The Council of Governors (COG) wants the Government and Parliament to allocate Kshs 20billion to support urbanization and urban development from the exchequer.

The COG noted that there was huge financing gap for urban infrastructure and service provision adding that there was need for County Governments and the National Government to explore the other financing options envisaged in the PFM Act.

“The Council deliberated on this matter and approved a resolution to engage with the National Government and Parliament to explore the creation of a National Urban development Fund. The Fund should be at least Kshs 20billion of the annual printed estimates to support urbanization, “said Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang Nyongo, EGH, and Chairman Lands, Housing and urban Development Committee.

The Governor who appeared before Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations Committee Chaired by Wajir Senator, Abbas Mohamed was responding to a statement sought by Kajiado Senator Seki Lenku Ole Kanar in Parliament Buildings.

The Legislator had sought among other issues a statement regarding the implementation of the second level of devolution through decentralization of services in urban areas.

The Senator wanted to understand interventions put in place to allow County Assemblies to appropriate resources to urban entities.

The COG pointed out that the County Governments have in the past funded the urban areas mainly through revenue allocated by the county government to the urban area or city and grants and donations.

“County Governments should enact legislation to enable cities and urban areas to collect and spend part of own source revenue at source as envisaged n section 172 (a) of PFM Act, “Rog Nyong’o added.

The COG also wants the County Governments to enact the legislation to implement section 173 of PFM Act on the objective criteria for allocation of funds to cities and urban areas.

Nairobi City Governor Johnson Sakaja who also appeared before the Committee spelt out his plans to create Boroughs in his county.

It is important to note that Kenya does not have specific Boroughs Administration system in place. The administrative structure in Kenya is primarily organized into counties, ‘he added.

He asked the Senate to amend the Urban Cities Areas and Cities Act,2011 to introduce a section specifically addressing Boroughs as administration units in cities.

He pointed out that the Section will cover aspects such as establishment of Boroughs and its management.

Further he wants the Act amended to grant the Governor of counties with Boroughs as administrative units the authority to formulate regulations concerning the administration tailored to the particular requirements and circumstances of that county.

The Governor was responding to concerns by Senators on whether the Borough system would be replicated in other cities or specifically meant for Nairobi.