- The National government has in the past four years injected almost Sh2 trillion in President Uhuru Kenyatta's legacy plan
- More than a half of the allocated funds were not spent
Image: PSCU
County governments have given less attention to President Uhuru Kenyatta's Big Four Agenda blueprint, allocating fewer resources to the four pillars.
The Big Four Scorecard County Report by the Institute of Public Finance Kenya (IPFK) shows counties allocated an average of less than ten per cent to agriculture; health; infrastructure and trade, sectors key to Big Four Agendas.
During the 2017 Jamhuri Day celebrations, Uhuru unveiled his legacy agenda by promising to build 500,000 low-cost houses, create jobs by revamping the manufacturing sector, provide access to healthcare services, and ensure the country is food secure.
The National government has in the past four years injected almost Sh2 trillion in the Big Four support sectors, with the National Treasury announcing Sh1.3 trillion funding of Uhuru's legacy dream in 2020 for the next three years.
Even so, low revenue collection, high debt obligation and Covid-19 economic shocks seem to be dragging the realisation of the dream, with Uhuru seems to be throwing in towel, if his statement during a national address in November last year is anything to go by.
“Even as we mooted the four intentions, we recognised then, as we still recognise now, they would not be completed in a single term of office,” Uhuru said.
According to the report released Tuesday by IPFK, despite low allocation, counties priorities health and food security.
''A majority of the initiatives are ongoing but most of them are way behind schedule with less than a year to the general elections,'' IPFK's report reads in part.
A study was done across the three counties of Mombasa, Embu and Uasin Gishu to assess plans and budgets and to determine their linkage with the national government’s Big Four Agenda, they channeled more investments towards affordable universal health care.
A snapshot of three counties' budget allocations in the past three financial years shows Embu allocated an average high of 32 per cent to health followed by Uasin Gichu at 23 per cent while Mombasa channeled an average of 21 per cent to the sector.
Embu County also allocated the highest amount to the agricultural sector compared to her peers. It pumped nine per cent of its total budget for the three financial years to improve food security.
''Despite the allocation, more than a half of the allocated funds were not spent,'' the IPKF report said.
This is, however, less than 10 per cent, a threshold set in the Malabo Declaration of 2014 where Kenya and other nations committed to allocating at least a tenth of its budget to the agricultural sector.
The other counties allocated less than five per cent, with Uasin Gichu allocating an average of four per cent and Mombasa at two per cent.
Under the manufacturing agenda, these counties intended to have industrial parks. However, by the time this study was concluded, none of these had achieved this objective.
In Uasin Gishu County, for instance, the industrial park in the area is privately owned. As a result, efforts have been directed towards market infrastructure and value addition initiatives done collaboratively with other departments such as Agriculture.
According to the report, affordable housing is one of the agendas that the citizens are yet to fully enjoy its full benefits. The counties anticipated partnership from development partners and financial assistance from the national government to make this a reality.
Findings from the report show the implementation of the Big Four Agenda remained behind schedule less than a year before its implementation comes to an end.
“It is unlikely that the Counties will have realized the objectives of the Big Four Agenda by the end of the current government’s tenure in office,'' IPFK CEO James Muraguri said.
The continuity of existing initiatives remains in doubt with expected regime change as the 2022 general election draws closer.
''There is a benefit in leadership continuity as this ensures that all projects are completed as was intended,” Center for International Private Enterprise country representative Ben Kiragu said.