Trans Nzoia County Governor George Natembeya has criticised the unequal distribution of resources to Western Kenyan counties.
This bold stance highlights the frustrations and perceived injustices faced by residents in the region, further sparking a debate on the equitable allocation of government resources.
Governor Natembeya's remarks underscore the stark disparities in budget allocations that he believes have long disadvantaged Western Kenya's development.
Natembeya illustrated this inequity by comparing the funds allocated to different regions, pointing out significant imbalances yet the one man, one vote and one shilling is not operational.
"Imagine the people making the budget—the one that the Finance Bill is expected to finance—they take Ksh 1.5 billion from road allocations and allocate it to Kikuyu constituency where there is Alliance Boys and Girls and all other developments, and then they take Ksh 200 million and allocate it to the whole of Western Kenya. Where is equality there?" Natembeya queried.
The governor's call for change reflects a broader sentiment among a section of Western Kenyan residents who feel their region has been consistently marginalized in national development initiatives.
"We want a government that takes care of all its people regardless of your social status because we all pay taxes," the county boss opined.
The concerns raised by the county boss came a week after the chairperson of the Council of Governors and Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru gave an ultimatum to the national government to release funds to counties.
Notably, the national and county governments have been involved in a push and pull over the right formula to disburse funds to the 47 devolved units.
Waiguru stated that counties had not received their two-month allocations and the delay was causing distress in the counties.
"The council calls for the immediate release of an equitable share of revenue owed to county governments for the months of May and June 2024 amounting to Ksh64 billion. This is to ensure uninterrupted service delivery at the county. As it is, many counties are struggling to pay salaries," Waiguru stated.
She disclosed that counties are struggling to pay salaries and foot other bills that enable the smooth running of the devolved units.
