Kenya’s Members of Parliament have approved the County Governments Additional Allocations Bill, 2024, paving the way for the release of Sh50.5 billion to the 47 county governments to support development projects and improve service delivery.
The Bill, which now awaits President William Ruto’s signature, allows for the transfer of both conditional and unconditional grants from the National Government and international development partners for the 2024/25 financial year.
Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, who sponsored the Bill, said the funding would help counties execute their constitutional mandates, enhance devolved functions, and improve lives at the grassroots.
“This funding will help counties fulfill their constitutional mandates, improving the quality of life for millions of Kenyans,” Ichung’wah told lawmakers during debate.
Of the total allocation, Sh8.42 billion will come from the National Government’s share of revenue, Sh116.1 million from court fines, and Sh42 billion from development partners, including Sh33.1 billion from the World Bank to support key projects.
Some of the major allocations include Sh3.23 billion for the Afya Bora Mashinani program to support Community Health Promoters, Sh2.9 billion for the construction of County Aggregation and Industrial Parks in 21 counties, and Sh1.76 billion for the Kenya Devolution Support Programme.
In addition, Sh1.759 billion will go towards clearing salary arrears for county health workers under a Return-to-Work Agreement with the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU), while Sh523.1 million has been set aside for constructing county headquarters in Isiolo, Lamu, Tana River, and Tharaka Nithi.
The Bill also outlines projects in agriculture, health, sanitation, climate action, and urban development supported by international partners.
The Budget and Appropriations Committee raised concerns that delays in passing the Bill had already begun to affect county operations, particularly the timely payment of health workers and implementation of industrial park projects.
