Council of Governors Chairman Martin Wambora issued a statement on Monday, April 19, outlining why counties will not be in a position to make payments to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) due to the delay in the disbursement of the County equitable share of revenue by the National Treasury.
"In this regard, KRA needs to take cognizance of the prevailing situation as this has not only affected statutory remittances but also payment of contractors and allowances for Members of County Assemblies,
"The Council will convene a meeting with the Commissioner-General, Kenya Revenue Authority to find an amicable solution to the issue as we are aware that non-remittance of statutory deductions affects the collection of taxes," explained Wambora.
Following the Council of Governors extra-ordinary Council meeting that was held on the day, the County governors went on to explain how the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic had burned through the Ksh 5 billion that was disbursed to the counties during the first wave.
Kakamega County was highlighted as an example, with Governor Wambora revealing that Ksh 8 million (not factored in the current budget) was being spent each month on resources in isolation facilities for healthcare workers alone.
"County Governments are currently straining to supplement the current oxygen and ICU bed capacity," the statement revealed, adding that the County Governments are currently owed three months of equitable share funds.
The county heads requested the National Government to act promptly in a bid to avert the looming crisis facing the various counties.
Wambora further revealed that County Governments are currently unable to conduct testing due to the lack of testing kits.
Citing the 3rd wave of the Covid-19 pandemic as the reason, Governor Wambora also revealed that the Council had resolved to postpone the 7th Annual Devolution Conference to take place from August 23 - August 26, in Makueni County.
The latest statement from the Council of Governors comes at a time when healthcare workers are battling to curb the recent surge of Covid-19 cases, that necessitated a lockdown of 5 counties by President Uhuru Kenyatta on March 26.
Over the last five days (April 15 - April 19), the country recorded 81 Covid-19 related deaths, 3,766 new cases from a sample size of 27,074 tests, and 2,033 recoveries.
At the start of April 21, several county heads expressed concerns over the third wave of the pandemic. This included Nakuru County (1 of the 5 counties currently on lockdown) with Governor Lee Kinyanjui saying health workers were overwhelmed.
“Nakuru County Health Department has been under immense pressure due to the number of people who have turned positive and in need of medical attention. All Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds in the county are full and in the last three to four days, we have had to transfer patients out of Nakuru,” Governor Kinyanjui stated on April 3.
