Joho, Alfred Mutua Ranked Among Worst Performing

Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua (left) and Mombasa County Hassan Joho
Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua (left) and Mombasa County Hassan Joho.
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Mombasa governor Ali Hassan Joho and his Machakos counterpart Dr Alfred Mutua have been ranked as the worst performers for the last nine years since devolution kicked off.

In the first-ever Kenya County Fact Sheets released on Wednesday, June 29, Amason Kingi's Kilifi was also among counties that registered a decline in growth.

In total, Ksh3.2 trillion was distributed to countries depending on various factors but whereas some had a noticeable growth in development, the three posted a dip.

Those that developed include Elgeyo Marakwet headed by Alex Tolgos, Nyandarua led by Francis Kimemia and West Pokot  of John Lonyangapuo.

Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi during a press briefing on January 13, 2021
Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi during a press briefing on January 13, 2021
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"For the last nine years, we have a whopping over Ksh3.2 trillion that has gone our 47 counties. As we unveil this fact sheet, the main issue here that every Kenyan should ask themselves is 'have you gotten value for this money?'" Stated Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa.

His sentiments were corroborated by James Katule, the CEO of the Commission of Revenue Allocation (CRA), who confirmed that the funds had been disbursed urging Kenyans to question their Governors on how the funds were eventually used.

"That money has gone through the 47 Governors of this country. Can we pause and ask 'What have they done with that money?'

"Therefore that money should have been used to reduce poverty in this country," Katule noted at the CRA event.

13 counties among them Homa Bay led by Cyprian Awiti, Murang'a (Mwangi wa Iria) and Taita Taveta (Granton Samboja) stagnated in growth over the period.

The data also showed that Nairobi, based on the size of its population, received the highest allocation pegged at Ksh130 billion followed by Kakamega at Ksh86 billion and Nakuru Ksh82.9 billion.

Other counties that received huge allocations, due to the level of poverty, were Turkana Ksh93.5 billion, Mandera Ksh84.4 billion Kilifi Ksh81 billion.

Wamalwa also praised Makueni governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana for his development record after he took a section of the allocation to set up a new hospital from scratch.

"We have gone to Makueni and seen Prof Kivutha Kibwana use Ksh200 million to put up a brand new hospital, equip it, operationalise it and it is serving over 50,000 people yet in another county, similar funds went to building a Governor's mansion," he remarked.

Former Makueni County Governor Kivutha Kibwana addresses the media
Former Makueni County Governor Kivutha Kibwana addresses the media
The Standard