CRA raises concern over oversight funds for counties

Iten

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

KNA by Alice Wanjiru/Valentine Jeptumo

The Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) has raised concerns over the disparity in allocation of funds to counties versus the funds used for oversight.

Commissioner Benedict Muasya cited the allocation for Elgeyo Marakwet County which gets Sh4.6 billion from The National Treasury out of which Sh3.4 billion goes to recurrent expenditure with only Sh1.2 billion being set aside for development. 

The commissioner noted that the County Assembly is further allocated Sh700 million from the recurrent expenditure to oversight Sh1.2 billion adding that it was imperative to strike a balance saying the country was using so much of the little resources available for oversight. 

Commissioner Muasya who was accompanied by Commissioner Fatuma Gedi was speaking in Iten during the start of a one-week impact assessment survey of how the county has spent the Sh36.4 billion it has received since 10 years of devolution.

Muasya however said in their tour of the 47 counties, the Commission has witnessed firsthand the development that has taken place arising from the Sh3.3 trillion that counties have received from the national government. 

He added that as the commission embarks on the fourth revenue sharing formula, it will take into account the unique challenges faced by respective counties.

Muasya cited Elgeyo Marakwet who he said due to its terrain, the construction of a 1km road may cost three times what it would cost a county with a flat terrain. 

He, therefore, urged all counties to outline their unique challenges to the Commission so that it comes up with a tailor-made formula for each county.

Governor Wisley Rotich said the county had been disadvantaged after it was left out of the marginalization fund saying it required more resources as it strives to transform the lives of its people. 

Courtesy ; K. N. A