The Senate Speaker Rt Hon. Amason Jeffah Kingi EGH has supported calls to grant the County Assemblies financial autonomy saying the action will enable County Assemblies undertake their programmes in an ideal environment.

Speaker Kingi who was speaking during the official closing ceremony of the Devolution Conference at the Eldoret Sports Club in Uasin Gishu commended the County Governments comprising the Executive and the County Assemblies for their exemplary work that he said has enhanced implementation of Devolution for the benefit of Kenyans.

“County Governments comprising the Executive and the County Assemblies play a critical role to the success of Devolution, through their legislative mandate, County Assemblies, in particular, have ensured counties had the necessary laws and policies on which service provision, project implementation and grassroot development have been anchored since Devolution got underway,” commended Speaker Kingi.

“The call for financial autonomy for our County Assemblies is, therefore, fully merited and timely, for the key reason that it will enhance their independence and elevate their role as an oversight institution,” added Hon. Kingi.

The Senate Boss revealed that the House is already processing a landmark Bill, the County Public Finance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023 sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the Senate and Meru Senator Hon. Kathuri Murungi which will grant the County Assemblies financial autonomy.

The Bill according to Speaker Kingi will cure what he referred to as a mischief that for years has left County Assembles at the whims and caprices of the County Treasuries as they seek money to meet their administrative expenditures.

“When the Bill becomes law, County Assemblies will not have to go through County Executive Committees to do their requisition, as is presently the case,” explained Sen. Kingi.

 Speaker Kingi applauded pioneer Senators for their sacrifice boldly coming out to support Devolution from the initial stage.

“The pioneer Senators were not left out, they had to contend with the less than ideal Shimba Hills offices at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, later moving to the County Hall, and finally to the current hi-tech Chamber at the main Parliament Buildings,” explained Hon.Kingi.

Hon. Kingi assured the delegates that the Senate as the overseer of Devolution as stipulated in Article 96 of the Constitution remains committed to undertaking any relevant legislative intervention to raise the capacity of any players in the Devolution space to effectively discharge their mandate.

On transfer of devolved functions, Hon. Kingi commended President William Ruto following his Wednesday`s directive that all the functions that had been earmarked to be devolved will be transferred to Counties in 60 days adding that the Senate will provide a requisite legal framework to facilitate transfer of those functions.

Speaker Kingi applauded all the stakeholders for participating in the Devolution Conference urging them to fully embrace recommendations emanating from the Conference to take Devolution to another level.

“The Eighth Devolution Conference, as intended, has provided us with the opportunity to commemorate the milestones in our 10-year devolution journey; identify challenges and seek to formulate appropriate responses, as we rekindle our commitment to the Devolution cause,” said Hon. Kingi.

He concluded by commending the organizers of this year`s Devolution Conference and all stakeholders for displaying their commitment to supporting Devolution.