The Council of Governors has accused President William Ruto's administration of plotting to kill devolution by crippling them through budget cuts and delayed disbursements.
Governors now threaten to shut down county services if the National treasury fails to reinstate Sh38 billion diverted from county allocations.
A section of governors who spoke to The Standard said interference by the national government is a direct attack on devolution, and is aimed at crippling service delivery in all 47 counties.
COG Vice Chair Mutahi Kahiga said reducing their budgets by Sh38.4 billion is not an isolated case, but a continuation of deliberate and unjustified reduction of equitable share of revenue under the pretext of revenue shortfalls. "It is becoming increasingly apparent that these systematic budgetary cuts are designed to cripple county governments, hindering effective service delivery, and ultimately discredit and kill the devolved system of governance," Of the Sh38.4 billion deductions, Sh24 billion are conditional grants from donors, that is meant to support critical county projects in Healthcare, Agriculture, fisheries, water, roads, slum upgrading and infrastructure development.
