𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟮, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰

The National Assembly and the Senate have reached a consensus on the County Governments Additional Allocations Bill (National Assembly Bill No.23 of 2023). This led to the introduction of the Mediated version of the  Bill in the National Assembly yesterday. 

The Mediated version of the Bill, which was moved by the Chairperson, Budget and Appropriations Committee, Hon. Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu), seeks to provide for the additional allocations to county governments for the 2023/2024 Financial Year. 

"This House supports devolution that is why this Bill introduces the necessary provisions that will fast track access to funds by county governments, " said Hon. Nyoro. 

In part, the Bill states, "the requirements under sections 191A to 191E of the Public Finance Management Act shall not apply to the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 Financial Years. This exemption streamlines the allocation of funds to county governments without the need for intergovernmental agreements."

If the Bill is passed by the National Assembly and the Senate,  counties will be able to unlock much-needed funds by incorporating provisions for additional allocations from proceeds of loans and grants from development partners.

Notable provisions in the County Governments Additional Allocations Bill include facilitating the transfer of conditional and unconditional allocations from the Consolidated Fund to the respective County Revenue Funds and special purpose accounts.

The Bill further details conditional allocations that are earmarked for various projects and initiatives.

 These include financing for projects such as the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), Water and Sanitation Development Project (WSDP), Primary Healthcare in Devolved Context Program, Locally-Led Climate Action Program (FLLoCA), Agriculture Sector Development Support Programme II (ASDSP II), Drought Resilience Programme in Northern Kenya (DRPNK), Emergency Locust Response Project (ELRP), Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Project (KISIP II), Kenya Livestock Commercialization Project (KELCOP), and Aquaculture Business Development Project (ABDP).

One notable allocation highlighted in the Bill is the conditional allocation amounting to Kshs.6.187 Billion, which is financed by proceeds from a World Bank Loan set for County Climate Resilience Grant. It will be allocated on the basis of factors that reflect relative expenditure needs for climate action including rural area, rural population, poverty and performance based indicators. 

Speaking to the delay in the passage of the County Governments Additional Allocations Bill, 2023, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. (Dr.) Moses Wetang'ula stated that, "We want to make it clear that the delay in the passage of this Bill caused by the conservatory orders obtained by Council of Governors that injuncted any process in finalising this Bill. It is not this House."

For details on the Bill, checkout the Parliament of Kenya website 

http://www.parliament.go.ke/the-national-assembly/house-business/order-paper