Nairobi, KENYA: Kwale, Kilifi, Taita Taveta and TanaRiver are among counties at the Coast affected by the delay of the 12 billion equalization fund.
Speaking before the National Assembly committee on National Cohesion and equal opportunity chaired by nominated Member of parliament Maina Kamanda, Principal Secretary at the National treasury Dr.Kamau Thugge said that the expiry of the Appropriation Act in June 2017 has delayed the release of the equalization funds to implement projects in the 14 counties.
Thugge told the committee that the controller of budget refused to authorize the release of the funds due to the expiry of the appropriation act, urging the legislators to fast-track the approval of the bill.
Apart from the expiry of the Appropriation act last year, the PS also noted that a 3year delay in the coming up of a policy hindered the disbursement of the fund.
Thugge dismissed claims that the funds have been misused noting that currently, there is sh.12.4 billion in the equalization fund, out of which only sh 1.1 billion has been disbursed.
The 14 counties set to benefit from the sh 12billion Equalization fund from the Commission on Revenue Allocation in 2018/19 are Turkana, Lamu, Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit.
Samburu, West Pokot,Tana River, Narok, Kwale, Taita Taveta Isiolo, Kilifi and Garissa.
The fund is set to be distributed to counties categorized as marginalized and whose health care, water services, roads and electricity need massive injections of funds to improve.
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