Nyandarua and eight other counties are set to benefit from a Sh20 billion grant from the World Bank to support devolution.
The support towards both the national and county governments is expected to improve results in public finance management and procurement, monitoring and evaluation, civic engagement and public participation, human resource and performance management, environment and social safeguards.
The grant is part of the support to the Kenya Devolution Support Programme (KDSP), which identifies public participation as a priority.
The World Bank Kenya’s Task Team Leader of KDSP, Mr Abdu Muwonge said the funding will help citizens in selected counties by improving their access to devolution services around thematic areas.
Muwonge’s comments were contained in a statement sent to journalists in Nyandarua by the County director of communications Mr. Jesse Masai.
The statement added that the programme will be coordinated by the Ministry of Devolution under the State Department of Devolution, but will be implemented largely by counties in conjunction with the Kenya School of Government (KSG).
“The money is available and captured in the National Treasury ready for disbursement to Nyandarua, Homa Bay, Nakuru, Makueni, Garissa, Busia, Nyamira, Kirinyaga and Kajiado counties,” Muwonge said.
Muwonge warned that failure to achieve the grant’s objective would not be an option for the participating counties. “Let us know how the programme is working. You either make it or make it,” he said.
“Sh4 billion will go to the national government to support guidelines and training, while the remaining Sh16 billion will go to the counties for capacity building and performance,” said Muwonge.
The programme became effective in September 2015, but was not factored in the 2015/2016 County Revenue Act, as it had already been passed.
However, the funds will be rolled over to the 2017/18 Financial Year and have already been captured in the current County Allocation Revenue Act.
Nyandarua’s Acting County Secretary Mr. Daniel Irungu said the County was ready to implement the programme, having submitted a detailed technical proposal and putting in place required structures.
“It will complement existing devolution capacity building and has been designed in consultation with the Council of Governors. We are glad to be among the pioneering counties,” said Irungu.
“We have been assured that the programme will run for four years, till 2020, to account for lost time. The challenge for the incoming County administration is to ensure continuity and institutional memory by supporting the team in Nyandarua that has made this possible,” Irungu said.
