Don’t claw back devolutions wins, Barasa says

By Mike Kihaki-Standard

Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa has asked the national government to stop interfering with devolved functions.

Speaking in Mombasa during the yearly meeting for accountants, Barasa urged state officials to respect and support the independence of institutions tasked with promoting devolution.

“There is a systematic attempt by the national government to claw back devotion, especially on matters to do with healthcare. Health is a devolved function, and it should remain that way.” Said the governor.

According to Barasa, the two levels of government should not appear to be competing for donor support to counties. “When we have development partners with conditional grants that are supposed to promote healthcare coming on board, let those conditional grants go directly to counties, “he stated.

The Kakamega county boss who also chairs the Council of governors committee on Finance, planning, and economic affairs spoke days after President Ruto reiterated his resolve to claw back some health-related functions, for a sector that is almost fully devolved.

Already, the State has floated the establishment of the Health Risk Commission to oversee the management of human resources for health.

But Barasa now says this planned takeover will undermine strides taken over the years in the implementation of devolution.

He reminded Treasury to fast-track the disbursement of 94.1 billion for the last three months by Friday’s deadline.

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