Deputy President reads the riot act to government institutions, warning that bureaucratic lethargy is stifling devolution and delaying critical services to the public.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has drawn a line in the sand regarding the sluggish pace of government bureaucracy. Presiding over the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) meeting in Karen, Kindiki expressed open frustration with the slow implementation of resolutions that are vital for the smooth operation of county governments. His message was clear: the era of endless meetings without tangible results is over.

Breaking the Deadlock

The Deputy President’s intervention comes at a time of heightened tension between the Council of Governors and the Office of the Controller of Budget. These two critical bodies have been locked in a standoff over revenue access and expenditure approvals, a gridlock that has paralyzed service delivery in several counties. Kindiki emphasized that these "unnecessary bureaucratic bottlenecks" are not just administrative nuisances; they are actively denying Kenyans the development they voted for.

In a decisive move, the council directed the National Treasury to immediately release all outstanding equitable share funds for November. This directive is intended to inject much-needed liquidity into the counties, allowing them to clear pending bills and resume stalled projects. "We cannot have money sitting in accounts while dispensaries lack medicine and contractors go unpaid," Kindiki asserted.

• The Blame Game: Governors have long complained that the Controller of Budget’s office acts as a gatekeeper rather than a facilitator, delaying funds on technicalities. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-11)Kindiki has ordered a streamline of these processes.
• Devolution at Risk: The Deputy President warned that persistent friction between national agencies and county governments threatens to undermine the very spirit of devolution.

A Call for Synergy

Kindiki urged all stakeholders to drop their rigid stances and work as a cohesive unit. He pointed out that the public does not distinguish between national and county failures; they only see a government that is not working. By demanding a tracking mechanism for all IBEC resolutions, he is instilling a culture of accountability that has been sorely lacking.

As the meeting adjourned, the onus shifted to the technocrats. The political will has been signaled from the top; now, the machinery of government must grind into gear to deliver on its promises.