Nairobi Tops List as Six Counties Claim Lion's Share of Devolution Funds

Nairobi Tops National Funding Allocations Since Devolution, New Data Reveals

Nairobi, Kenya – July 17, 2025

New government data shows that Nairobi County has received the highest share of national funding since the start of devolution in 2013, with a total allocation of KSh 305.7 billion through mid-2024. The capital leads a group of six counties that have together drawn more than 25% of the KSh 3.73 trillion distributed to Kenya’s 47 counties over the past decade.

The six counties – Nairobi, Kiambu, Turkana, Nakuru, Kakamega, and Mombasa – collectively received KSh 973.5 billion, underlining a concentration of resources in some of the country’s most populous or strategically significant regions.

• Kiambu County was allocated approximately KSh 155.6 billion,

• Nakuru received about KSh 141.1 billion,

• Mombasa got KSh 127.6 billion, and

• Kakamega took in KSh 126.4 billion.

In contrast, smaller or less populated counties received significantly lower amounts, sparking renewed debate on how equitable Kenya’s revenue-sharing formulas truly are.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja welcomed the figures, noting that the capital’s robust revenue-generating capacity complements the national allocations to fuel investment and development. “Nairobi plays a critical economic role and our ability to generate revenue locally allows us to reinvest in infrastructure, health, and services,” Sakaja said.

However, economic analysts caution that the data underscores persistent funding disparities that could undermine the goals of devolution. Rural and marginalized counties, they argue, must focus on growing their own-source revenue and push for fairer allocation mechanisms to meet local development needs.

The report has reignited discussions around fiscal equity, especially given that the equitable share is constitutionally intended to promote balanced regional growth. Critics contend that while population and economic activity often dictate allocations, the heavy concentration of funds in a few counties may entrench inequality rather than bridge it.

As Kenya marks over a decade of devolution, the figures offer both a reflection of economic realities and a prompt for policymakers to reconsider how national resources are shared to ensure inclusive and balanced development across all regions.