County Assemblies across Kenya are struggling to fulfil their oversight roles due to severe financial constraints, a situation that threatens the foundation of devolution. This concern was raised by the chair of the Senate Committee on Delegated Legislation, Senator Mwenda Gataya “Mo Fire”, during a meeting with members of the Mombasa County Assembly on Tuesday.
The Tharaka Nithi Senator emphasized that many county assemblies are facing delays in staff salaries and disruptions in operations due to reduced budget allocations.
“As we speak, some county assembly employees have not received their salaries because the funds meant for assemblies were slashed. This is a serious issue we must look into closely,” said Senator Gataya.
He assured that his committee would forward the concerns raised to the Senate Committee on Finance to ensure appropriate action is taken.
Highlighting the critical role of county assemblies in the devolution process, Senator Gataya warned that underfunding these institutions would undermine their ability to hold governors accountable and protect the gains made under devolution.
“Oversight at the county level is the responsibility of the assemblies. If we don’t empower them financially, they cannot function effectively. A weak assembly means weakened oversight, and that is dangerous for devolution,” he added.
Also present at the meeting was Mombasa County Assembly Speaker Aharub Khatri, who expressed gratitude for the Senate’s engagement and support.
“We view the Senate as our elder siblings. Fortunately, some of the senators in this committee were once MCAs, so they understand the challenges we face on the ground,” said Speaker Khatri.
He noted that both sides had agreed to maintain close collaboration, with future visits planned to foster dialogue and ensure the effective use of public funds at the grassroots.
“We’ve agreed on reciprocal visits — they will return to Mombasa, and we will also visit them in Nairobi. This will help guide us on how best to deliver development to our people and ensure accountability,” Khatri added.
The nine-member Senate committee began its coastal oversight tour in Kwale and concluded the day in Mombasa, where they met with the County Assembly’s Delegated Legislation Committee in the morning, followed by a courtesy call to Governor Abdullswamad Sheriff Nassir in the afternoon.
“Our main objective is to assess how county assemblies are managing the responsibilities of devolution. What we’ve seen here will greatly inform our discussions going forward,” said Senator Gataya.
