Financial reports from four Western region counties have revealed an alarming decline in revenue collection that has been at play since devolved governments took over in 2013.
The Controller of Budget's quarterly reports indicated that Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia, and Vihiga counties have recorded a steady decline for the financial year 2016/2017 and the first quarter of 2017/2018.
In Sospeter Ojaamong's Busia County, revenue collection is reported to have dropped by 54% from Ksh69.99 Million at the begining of the 2016/2017 fiscal year to Ksh32.17 Million in March 2018.
Wycliffe Wangamati's Bungoma County recorded a 7% plunge from Ksh105.52 Million to Ksh98.04 Million in the same period.
[caption caption="President Uhuru Kenyatta with governors during the 2018 Governors' Conference in Diani"]
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Governor Wangamati took over the top county job from Kenneth Lusaka who is currently serving as the Senate Speaker.
Kakamega County, headed by second-term Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, has experienced a 43.1% decline from Ksh102.58 to Ksh58.37 Million in the period studied.
In Vihiga County, revenue shrunk by a record 45.6% to Ksh12.82 from Ksh23.56 Million that was collected in the period 2017/2018.
Ward representative for Kakamega's Isukha South ward Farouk Machanje turned the blame on county executives who he called to take responsibility for the revenue decline.
"It is surprising that Kiambu County, which has almost the same population as Kakamega collects at least Sh1.7 billion in revenue while the latter can hardly raise Sh500 million," he remarked.
Some governors in the affected counties have been holding meetings with their top officials and other actors to try to find a solution to the problem.
On Tuesday, the Kakamega Governor addressed a two-day revenue enhancement forum in which county officials agreed on a number of measures to reverse the trend.
[caption caption="Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya who will host the 2018 Devolution Conference"]
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