Counties across Kenya are being urged to reevaluate their reliance on National Government revenue allocations and focus on cultivating innovative resources to drive sustainable development.
President William Ruto's call comes as he emphasizes the need for devolved units to think creatively about funding their growth, warning that excessive dependency on central funds could hinder their progress.
During the official opening of the 8th Devolution Conference in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, President Ruto highlighted the urgency of diversifying revenue streams for local development.
He asserted that it was time for county administrations to engage in "long-and-hard thinking about sustainable and innovative resources" to power their progress and avoid the limitations that over-reliance on allocations could impose.
President Ruto articulated his concern, stating that an overemphasis on National Government allocations could "unfairly constrict the frontiers of productive possibility and limit their horizons of transformation."
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He stressed the pivotal role counties play as sustainable drivers of prosperity and as key proponents of the envisioned "Bottom-Up Economic Transformation."
In support of County-level growth, President Ruto underscored the importance of enabling these units to foster tangible change at the grassroots level.
He reaffirmed the National Government's commitment to disburse funds to counties more efficiently and promptly, highlighting the negative consequences that delayed fund disbursements can have.
"Delays in disbursing allocations to counties have tremendous negative effects. There is no excuse for this; we simply have to do better," President Ruto emphasized.
Amidst his call for self-reliance, President Ruto announced a significant milestone in the devolution process.
He revealed that, for the first time since the advent of devolution, the inaugural disbursement of equitable allocation to counties under the Kenya Kwanza administration was fully and promptly implemented.
President Ruto outlined a series of measures designed to empower counties further.
These initiatives include transferring constitutionally designated functions to county administrations, enhancing counties' capacity to generate independent revenue, and ensuring that shareable revenue is transferred in a timely and predictable manner.
The President also stressed the potential for County Governments to stimulate growth within their jurisdictions.
He highlighted the importance of supporting small enterprises to drive local economies towards sustainable pathways of higher earnings, wealth creation, and poverty reduction.
In closing, President Ruto reiterated his belief in the collaborative synergy between the National Government and Counties as the catalyst for propelling Kenya's progress.
"If we focus thoroughly on collaboration with counties, we can empower people and bring change at the grassroots," he affirmed.
As Kenya's devolution journey continues, President Ruto's call for counties to prioritize self-reliance and innovation resonates as a strategic approach to achieving sustainable and impactful growth.
The President's emphasis on collaboration and local empowerment underscores his administration's commitment to nurturing grassroots development and fostering economic transformation from the ground up.
