*COUNTIES YET TO RECEIVE KSH 59B FROM NATIONAL TREASURY, CoG CHAIR SAYS.*

*Kakamega, June 24, 2020 (GPU)*

The Council of Governors (CoG) has asked the National Treasury to release Kshs. 59 billion for the counties.

CoG chairman Wycliffe Oparanya said the money is part of the equitable sharable revenue for the month of May and June this year.

“We also urge the National Government to release a further Kshs. 4.6 billion under the devolution support programme by the World Bank as these funds will be used to fight Covid-19,” said Oparanya.

H.E Oparanya who is the Kakamega Governor noted that all the 47 County Governments have finalized the budgeting process for the Financial Year 2020/21 and the budgets are at various stages of approval by respective County Assemblies.

“In Kakamega, the County Assembly has already approved the budget. I urge other County Assemblies to expedite the approval of the budgets so that Counties can continue responding effectively to the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.

The Governor regretted that Counties have encountered some challenges in their bid to combat Covid-19.

“As Counties respond to the current surge in infections, we note that procurement of reagents and timely release of results remains a challenge hence limiting the testing capacity in the Country,” he said.

He asked the Ministry of Health to avail testing reagents and sample collection kits, and fast-track engagements with the border countries to agree on the testing protocols to avoid difference in test results.

The Governor said 10 counties have met the 300 bed capacity in their isolation centers as directed by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“The remaining counties are working towards achieving the 300 bed capacity in line with the last Summit’s agreement,” he said.

H.E Oparanya was accompanied  by Prof. Philip Kutima (Deputy Governor, Kakamega), Hon Joel Ongoro, Majority Leader in Kakamega County Assembly and Robert Sumbi, Chief of Staff, Kakamega.

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