Municipal Board Chairs from Kisumu County have raised alarm over what they describe as persistent governance failures, delayed operationalization, and lack of financial autonomy, in a formal submission to the Senate Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations.
In the memorandum, the caucus points to a disconnect between policy and implementation following the transfer of functions to five municipalities under a 2023 gazette notice issued by Governor Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o. While the move was anchored in constitutional provisions and the County Governments Act, the Chairs argue that the transition remains largely theoretical.
“These functions have not been fully transferred from the Executive to the Municipal Board and are unfortunately just on paper.”
They further cite instances where key administrative decisions are made without board approval, undermining governance structures.
“Evidence of decisions made by Managers in full knowledge of the Executive but without presentations to the Board to ratify prior to executions is noted.”
“Evidence of some Managers ignoring resolutions of the Boards and act contrary to it.”
The Chairs also accuse county officials of sidelining them in critical forums, including national engagements.
“Workshops, Seminars and Conferences that are meant for Board members are only attended by the Executive and Municipal Managers but ignoring the Board Members who only later learn of such though such meetings are mandatory to th Municipal Board members too.”
“A good example is the Devolution Conferences of 2025, where Board Chairs were excluded and were not informed making them look like gate crashers.”
Despite raising these concerns with oversight bodies, including the County Assembly and Public Service Board, the caucus says no meaningful action has been taken.
“Non of the ten points Action Plan in September 2025 that were agreed upon in the Nakuru Seminars and jointly drafted by the County Assembly Committee for Lands and Urban, the Executive and all five Municipal Boards members, are yet to be implemented despite the timelines well set.”
“Due to all these It’s now One and a half year but all the five Municipal Boards are not fully Operationalized.”
The memorandum further highlights alleged irregularities in the recruitment of municipal managers, claiming due process was ignored.
“The County Public Service Board” shall, through competitive process shall appoint a Secretary to the Board (Municipal/ City Manager) on such terms and conditions as the Public Service Board in CONSULTATION with the City or Municipal Board shall determine”.
“Take note that despite this provision, the Boards of those five Municipalities were never consulted when County Public Service Board hired those Municipal Managers.”
On funding, the Chairs paint a picture of chronic underfunding and lack of transparency in financial management.
“The Boards had presented their Supplementary Budgets for the Financial Y2023/24 but no funding were released to all the five Municipal Boards.”
“The Boards again prepared a Budgets for the FY 2024/25 but no single allocation was released to them for the entire period.”
They further question the handling of reduced allocations and the failure to disburse even approved funds.
“But still no single amount of the 10M allocations as per approved by the County Assembly were ever sent to any of the five Municipalities.”
Concerns were also raised over the management of donor funds and compliance requirements.
“World Bank then cannot consider funding the remaining four Municipalities namely Maseno, Konbewa, Muhoroni and Katitu because of this non compliancy of meeting those minimum requirements that is limited to no active accounts.”
The Chairs say financial opacity has left them exposed to audit queries without access to key financial information.
“It’s rather contradictory that the Chairs of the Boards are held to be accountable on audit queries but are not privy to account transactions.”
Operational challenges have also affected morale among board members, with delayed allowances and reimbursements cited as major concerns.
“Board members have become very demoralized and demotivated as there outstanding allowance of up to 9 months delayed or unremitted to their accounts by the County department of Finance.”
“Threats of some Board members losing interest in attending Board meetings or threats by many to resign have been received.”
In their recommendations, the caucus is calling for full implementation of the 2023 gazette notice, including complete transfer of functions and revenue collection powers to municipal boards. They also propose legislative amendments to strengthen financial oversight and accountability.
“So We do recommend that amendments to PFMA ACT be effected to have the Board Chairs be a signatory to the Municipal Accounts as this would make the Board to be aware of the flow of the expenditure and enhance accountability since the Chairs are held accountable.”
They further urge the Senate to engage directly with municipal leadership rather than relying solely on county executives.
“Senate should directly engage Chairs on issues and challenges facing Municipalities and not be represented by their County Executives in their absence since the Executives are part the problem, of the problems faced by the Municipalities.”
The caucus concluded its submission by expressing hope that Senate intervention will address the challenges facing municipalities.
“As a Caucus of Kisumu Municipal Board Chairs, may We take this opportunity to sincerely thank the Senate Committee for their concerns and empathy that may make us Board see some home and some light through the tunnel.”
