Governors warn delayed funds to counties crippling health function

The governors' body now says failure to release funds on time has left the provision of health services on its knees.

According to COG, the National Government owes counties their equitable share now crossing the Ksh. 100 billion mark, a few days to the end of the 2023/2024 financial year.

As it stands now, counties have not received their equitable share from the National Government for 3 months, including June, yet, the IFMIS system reportedly slows down from mid-June.

CoG health committee chairperson and Tharaka Nithi governor Muthomi Njuki questioned the motive behind the prolonged delay, yet the county governments have over-relied on overdrafts.

"If the National Government stuck to the law and gave us our resources on the 15th of every month, no county would have a debt of KEMSA," Njuki argued.

CoG now says majority of the counties are lacking medical supplies due to pending debts to KEMSA.

 "A debt is not bad. Infact, the agreement we have with KEMSA allows counties a 90 day repayment period. Doesn't that marry with the period counties haven't received their equitable share?" said the CoG Health Chair.

There has been a clamour by some officials at the national government to take over the health function and manage it from Nairobi as was before the advent of the 2010 constitution, but governors have stayed put, variously expressing gains made under devolution.

KEMSA says counties owe them about  Ksh.3 billion in arrears.