The Senate began its investigation into the National Treasury’s proposed Ksh 420 billion funding to counties, which created a major financial crisis for Kenya’s decentralized governmental system. The legislators express doubts about the funding amount because they believe that the existing budget system will cause all 47 decentralized units to fail their service delivery obligations.
The Treasury claims that Ksh 420 billion represents an excessive budget limit, yet both the Senate and the Council of Governors maintain that it serves as a budget minimum, which has already decreased through inflation and increasing debt.
The struggle has advanced beyond financial measurement because it now represents a crucial test for devolution’s existence. Senators have pointedly accused the Treasury of “starving the periphery to feed the center,” suggesting that the delayed disbursement of even these contested funds has turned county headquarters into halls of paralysis.
The consequences of the situation have already started to impact the local community. The Senate requires an extreme increase in equitable funding, which has forced the healthcare, agriculture, and infrastructure development projects of the country into a state of legislative deadlock.
The national government presents its budget cuts as a strategy to satisfy international lenders, yet the Senate reveals how the government systematically bankrupts its county operations, which serve as the main public service point for citizens.
The study will reveal the underlying reasons that have resulted in an escalating revenue crisis. The senators require a clinical examination to determine why the Treasury constantly chooses national debt repayment above its constitutional duty to finance devolution. The ongoing standoff now creates a situation that could lead to complete county operational shutdowns.
The situation involves more than a budget disagreement; it has evolved into a constitutional crisis that endangers the fundamental principles of local government. The Senate has delivered an unambiguous message through their statement that the Treasury’s decision will determine whether devolved economic success will result in a financial disaster worth multiple billion shillings.
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