- However, on Tuesday the DP announced that the national government has disbursed Sh10 billion to counties hard hit by El Nino rains and floods.
- Gachagua urged the affected counties to defer their development plans and re-direct funds to mitigate the effects of the floods.
Image: DPCS
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has now told counties not to expect any funds from the government for El Nino effects.
Speaking on Wednesday from Karen, the DP said that there will be no money released but counties should utilise emergency funds.
"We are shocked to see governors complaining that they are yet to receive money for El Nino from the national government; such money is not coming," Gachagua said during the launch of the Development Partnership Forum
"We expect them to use emergency money within their financial provision or reallocate money within their budget to intervene for the people they govern."
The DP clarified that the national government would offer support to counties through the county coordination teams co-chaired by county commissioners and governors.
Gachagua explained that in the last consultation with the governors, they did agree on a coordination framework between the national government, the county governments and our development partners.
"We did agree that the county coordination teams that are co-chaired by the county commissioners and governors would be the forum through which to channel help," he explained.
"We did appeal to our development partners to upscale their level of assistance and I am grateful that continues to flow."
The DP stated that the national government committed to setting aside funds for these interventions and appealed to the county governments also to consider channelling funds for these interventions.
"However, there has been a misconception that some county governments have been waiting for the national government to give them money for these interventions. That is not the case," Gachagua stated.
This is contrary to what he said on Tuesday while in Mombasa where he announced that the national government has disbursed Sh10 billion to counties hard hit by El Nino rains and floods.
Gachagua urged the affected counties to defer their development plans and re-direct funds to mitigate the effects of the floods.
At the same time, the council of governors also criticised the DP for claiming that the devolved unit has received El Nino funds.
"To date, we wish to state that the county governments have not received any allocation from the national government to go towards mitigation measures," CoG chairperson Anne Waiguru said during a press briefing.
Waiguru who is also Kirinyaga Governor noted that some counties have not yet received their equitable shares from the national government.
"Counties are owed a total of Sh62.58 billion from the equitable share that is yet to be disbursed," she said.
Waiguru said 13 counties are owed Sh10.17 billion for September, 27 counties are owed Sh19.64 billion for October and all counties are owed, Sh32.76 billion for November.