North Rift governors have urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to ensure the Treasury releases funds to restart delayed projects and services.
Counties are due more than Sh29 billion for the last financial year.
They said delayed release of funding has been the major obstacle hindering the success of devolution.
A Council of Governors' statement, read by vice chairman and Kisii Governor James Ongwae last week, said more than Sh29 billion had not been released in the last financial year.
They asked the President to come to their rescue and allow counties to access Ifmis until July 15, to enable them to complete transactions already underway.
Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago and his deputy, Daniel Chemno, said the delayed release has caused many projects to be delayed or stalled completely.
Governors Mandago, Alex Tolgos of Elgeyo Marakwet and Patrick Khaemba of Trans Nzoia said devolution would have achieved even greater success with proper funding. All are ending their two terms.
“Devolution would have been a greater success but challenges like slow or delayed funding has been a major disruption of our plans to benefit Kenyans,” Mandago said.
Mandago and Tolgos are among outgoing governors who are running for Senate seats in their counties.
Mandago has commissioned more than 40 legacy projects in Uasin Gishu in the last month as part of his campaign blitz for Senate.
The governor has been on a spree to roll out projects completed during his tenure. They are in the water sector, healthcare, cooperatives, infrastructure, ECDE projects and agriculture.
“Our work is evident and residents are enjoying the fruits of devolution. That is why I want to become Senator so I can participate in strengthening devolution,"Mandago said. He was commissioning a water project in Moiben area.
Mandago said as governor for 10 years, he had learned a lot about devolution, its strengths and weaknesses. He said he wanted to continue to strengthening it in the Upper House.
“I know the challenges like scarce resources and delayed disbursement of funds to the counties. If elected I will help change the situation so devolution works even better," he said.
(Edited by V. Graham)
