Governors under the Frontier County Development Council have threatened to contest the inclusion of the new counties under the equalisation fund.
FCDC chairman Mohammud Ali also expressed concerns over the delayed release of funds as the drought continues to rake havoc, accusing the national government of misusing it.
They accused the government of using the funds to support non-Asal counties, saying the funds under the constitution were meant to support the Asal counties mainly during the ongoing drought.
"Despite efforts of the leadership of FCDC, to accelerate development in the area there has been a continuous threat where every part of the country has been struggling to be enlisted as Asals.
"This is an emerging issue, and FCDC is not opposed to supporting the less advantaged members of the society in the urban poor, but Asal must remain," they said.
Mohammud further said the frontier counties have lost 80 per cent of their livestock due to the prolonged drought with fears the numbers could rise in the coming weeks.
"These are communities that depend on pastoralism. It then means more than 80 per cent of households in this region are affected," he said.
The county bosses however said they are working with the national government in a bid to find long lasting ways to fight the ongoing drought.
