CoG asks Treasury to release half of shareable cash amid Senate row on new formula

By , K24 Digital
On Thu, 3 Sep, 2020 14:10 | < 1 min read
Council of Governors
Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya during a meeting with the Association of Community Health Workers on September 1, 2020. PHOTO | COURTESY

The Council of Governors (CoG) on Thursday asked the National Treasury to release at least half of the equitable share of revenue to counties.

In a statement to newsrooms, CoG said it needs the money to pay staff salaries and health insurance for frontline workers.

"We are aware that the National Government is operating but county services are slowly collapsing. We need to pull together as the levels of government," said CoG Chairman Wycliffe Oparanya.

The Kakamega leader said that his fellow governors are concerned that the 12-member Senate Committee formed to deliberate on the contentious committee is yet to reach a breakthrough.

"This has significantly affected service delivery by county governments and [caused] delay in staff salaries," said Governor Oparanya.

If the Treasury does not disburse the cash to counties soon, Oparanya warned that counties will grind to a halt.

The COG statement was issued after this week's meeting to take stock on the preparedness of county governments on Covid-19.

President Uhuru Kenyatta attended the virtual meeting held on Monday, August 31, as the chief guest.