The Council of Governors (CoG) Health Committee Chairperson, Muthomi Njuki, has called for an urgent review of resource allocation between the national and county governments, arguing that devolved units deserve a larger portion of the health budget.
Speaking in Homabay County ahead of the Devolution Conference, which runs from 12th to 15th August, Governor Njuki criticized the current distribution, where the Ministry of Health controls more than double the combined budgets of counties—despite health being a fully devolved function.
“Counties are struggling to fully fund healthcare because critical resources remain with the national government,” Njuki said. “The Ministry of Health should focus only on policy, while counties handle implementation.”Njuki, who also chairs the CoG Health Committee, highlighted the persistent underfunding of county health services as a major concern. He urged lawmakers to collaborate with counties on budgeting, accusing the National Assembly of siding with the Executive instead of ensuring fair resource allocation.
“The constant conflicts between the National Assembly and the Senate delay funds meant for counties,” he said. “We need a more practical approach to budgeting that reflects the needs on the ground.”The Devolution Conference, he added, offers an opportunity for counties to exchange best practices, learn from each other, and explore new technologies tailored to local needs.
