The Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has assured Kenyans that the Kenya Kwanza Administration will keep the trend of disbursing County Funds in time to enable Counties discharge their mandate without financial challenges.

Speaking when he presided over the closing ceremony of the Devolution Conference at Eldoret Sports Club in Uasin Gishu County, the Deputy President expressed the government`s commitment to supporting Devolution appealing to the Governors to expend those resources prudently for the benefit of Kenyans.

He said the government will continuously support Devolution as it is in line with the bottom up structure of empowerment promoted by the current administration.

“We have appreciated the transformation of investing resources at the bottom of the pyramid where they belong, and as staunch believers in sparking grassroots economies, we have picked good practices and lessons for better, bolder and broader steps into the next decade of Devolution,” said the DP.

“President Ruto has shown commitment to delivering on the Devolution dream because it is aligned to the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, we have no room for a failed Devolution because it is the anchor of the Kenya Kwanza Transformation Agenda,” he explained.

To prove the commitment, the DP revealed that for the first time in 7 years, the National Government ensured that all the funds meant for Counties was disbursed in time before crossing over to the new financial year.

He called for collaboration between the National and County Governments emphasizing that both levels of government serve the same Kenyans hence the need for collaboration.

The Second in Command noted the progress that has been brought by Devolution especially in the Health Sector promising that the National Government will continue working closely with Counties to better the sector.

“The advent of Devolution has led to the rise of health facilities from about 8,000 to over 13,700 as of 2022,” revealed the DP.

 “While it is in the interest of the counties to adequately provide technical and equipment support, leveraging partnership with the National Government ensures quality health service and as we collectively work to implement the Universal Health Coverage, the National Government has also given priority to preventive healthcare to ultimately reduce pressure on the county facilities,” he explained.

On the school meals initiative by Counties, Hon. Gachagua revealed that the National Government has doubled funds for the programme to KSh5 billion to cater for about 4 million learners while at the same time benefiting farmers.

He challenged Counties to put in place and implement measures that will help them increase Own Revenue.

In addition, Hon. Gachagua called on the Counties to collaborate with the National Government in the registration of the orphans, the elderly, people living with disabilities, an exercise that he said will be rolled out in September.

On the war against graft, the DP said the current Administration will fight corruption at all levels objectively saying there is no corruption for National Government and County Governments.

The DP used the occasion to warn leaders against what he termed as disrespecting development partners telling of the Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga over his remarks against the US Ambassador at the same venue where the Opposition Chief castigated the Ambassador asking her to keep off Kenyan affairs.

He applauded the US Ambassador for unlocking trading deals between Kenya and USA deals that Hon. Gachagua said have caused an influx of investors from the US investing in Kenya.

Hon. Gachagua further asked the US Envoy to ignore what he termed as noise from perennial complainants.