Governors now want the Kenya Roads Board (KRB) to respect a High Court ruling that allowed counties to receive the Roads Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF) and disburse it to counties immediately.
Council of Governors chair FCPA Ahmed Abdulahi says he has written to the KRB to release the funds forthwith, stating there is no need to continue holding the funds. He emphasized that the court process clearly defined the classification of roads and the clear jurisdiction of both levels of government.
Governor Abdulahi, in demanding the release of the funds, has also hit out at the National Assembly, saying they are in clear contravention of the Constitution by denying counties the funds. He stated that they should stick to their mandate as opposed to fighting over resources that are meant for the counties.
Moving forward, the CoG says the right of counties to maintain roads within their jurisdiction should not be toyed with or used as a tool to deny counties their equitable share of national resources, which are shared between the two levels of government, as was witnessed in a protracted battle that saw the courts act as a clear arbiter.
Consequently, the CoG finance committee chair, who is also the Kakamega Governor Fernandez Barasa, wants the National Government to release KES 64 billion owed to counties before the end of the financial year.
Governor Barasa also wants the National Government to extend the IFMIS closure period once the funds are released, to enable counties to absorb the funds and avoid pending bills.
