News Highlights (292)
Latest News Highlights
COUNTY CHIEF OFFICERS IN-CHARGE OF LANDS, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT INDUCTED
Written by CoG web Admin
The Council of Governors (CoG) Lands, Housing and Urban Development Committee organized an induction workshop for Chief Officers in charge of Lands, Housing and Urban Development from 8th – 12th May 2023 at Pride Inn, Mombasa County. Also in attendance were representatives from the State Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO-UN) and the National Construction Authority (NCA) among others.
“This induction workshop is key in appraising the County Chief Officers on their roles and responsibilities and provides an opportunity to take stock of the gains made and challenges encountered in the sector,” noted the Director Committees, CoG Mr Kizito Wangalwa while making opening remarks on behalf of the CoG CEO Ms Mary Mwiti.
The County Chief officers were taken through topical issues including; implementation of the National Urban Agenda; policies and legislations in the land, housing and urban development sectors; Affordable housing; County planning frameworks; integrated Planning for Inclusive & Resilient Urban Areas; intergovernmental relations and key projects and programmes in the sectors including the Kenya Informal Settlements Improvement Project (KISIP), the Digital Land Governance Programme under FAO and the Kenya Urban Support Programme ll (KUSP ll).
“We will continue to support County Governments and work in collaboration with all actors in this space to improve food and nutrition security and transform land governance in Kenya,” said Ms Husna Mbarak, Programmes Manager, FAO.
The 5-year Digital Land Governance programme is envisaged to strengthen the security of tenure and ensure equitable access to land and natural resources for the enhancement of livelihoods and sustainable socioeconomic development. In this regard, FAO in collaboration with the CoG is conducting capacity building on digital land governance, management of community land, County spatial planning, valuation Roll and property rating in all Counties across the country.
Speaking during the induction workshop, Chairperson County Executive Committee Members (CECMs) caucus for lands, housing and urban development Mr Raymond Kinyua underscored the need to work together to address the challenges plaguing the sector and leverage on the opportunities therein.
“The KUSP II targets 77 municipalities countrywide compared to the KUSP I where only 59 municipalities were involved. I urge the additional 18 municipalities to work with the Council to ensure that they meet the minimum conditions set out to benefit from the programme,” he added.
Counties were further urged to develop County Spatial Plans (CSP) in line with the National Spatial Plan to guide the County’s socioeconomic development including the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP). 10 years into devolution, only 12 Counties have approved CSPs.
As the induction workshop came to a close, Chief officers elected their caucus leadership as follows: Chair: Francis Lekalasimi of Isiolo County; Vice Chair: Cathra Abdi of Turkana County; Secretary: James Mbae Karuku of Tharaka Nithi County; Treasurer: Catherine Changwony (CO Nakuru); Housing & urban development Champion: Cleophas Okioi of Kisii County; Physical planning Champion: Judy Leah of Nyandarua County.
The Council of Governors (CoG) Chaired by H.E. Anne Waiguru held an extraordinary Council meeting on 2nd May 2023 at the COG offices to deliberate on among others, the status of disbursement of Counties’ equitable share of the revenue.
This meeting follows a Council meeting held on 24th April 2023 where Governors promised to shut down Counties should National Treasury fail to release funds owed to Counties within 14 days. To this end, the National Treasury has disbursed February 2023 allocations amounting to Ksh.31.45 billion.
Speaking during a press briefing after the 2nd May meeting, H.E. Anne Waiguru noted that the two parties had agreed on a strategy to ensure the release of all funds owed to Counties and the prompt disbursement of May and June allocations.
“It has been resolved that the March allocations will be disbursed by 15th May 2023 and April allocations by the end of May. The disbursements for May and June should be issued within the first two weeks of June to allow Counties to absorb these resources within the financial year,” added Governor Waiguru.
Cabinet Secretary National Treasury Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u, who was invited to the extraordinary Council meeting, expressed the commitment of the Treasury to ensure the timely disbursement of all County allocations as per the disbursement schedule.
The delayed disbursement of funds has jeopardized the operations in Counties, negatively affecting service delivery to Kenyans. It has resulted in a delayed settlement of pending bills, derailed implementation of development projects, hampered County emergency response measures, and has led to non-compliance of County Governments with regard to the timely payment of employees’ salaries and remittance of statutory deductions.
Further to the meeting’s agenda, Governors also discussed the current political situation in the country following the resumption of the weekly political protests. The Council notes with concern that the ongoing conflict between the two political divides continues to have a negative impact on counties. In this regard, the Council formed a ten-member committee comprising of the Council Executive Committee; H.E. Anne Waiguru, CoG Chairperson, H.E. Ahmed Abdullahi the Vice Chairperson, and H.E. Stephen Sang the Whip. Other Governors in the committee are; H.E. Kenneth Lusaka, H.E. Fatuma Achani; H.E. Mutahi Kahiga, H.E. Simba Arati, H.E. Joseph Ole Lenku, H.E. Wavinya Ndeti and H.E. Ochillo Ayacko.
The Committee will seek to engage all leaders in both political divides to address the issues affecting Kenyans and find amicable solutions to ensure stability in the country.
COUNCIL OF GOVERNORS LAUNCHES ONLINE REGISTRATION FOR UPCOMING DEVOLUTION CONFERENCE 2023
Written by CoG web Admin
The Council of Governors (CoG) will hold the 8th Devolution Conference 2023 from 15th-19th August 2023 in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County. The theme of the conference is ‘10 Years of devolution: The Present and the Future’ and the sub-theme: Driving Transformation from the local level: County Governments as the Centre of economic development. This year’s conference seeks to reflect on the last 10 years of devolution and explore locally and internationally recognized methodologies for strengthening systems to enhance transformational service delivery in Counties.
In view of the above, the Council of Governors in partnership with Safaricom on 2nd May 2023, launched the online registration for delegates and exhibitors for the Conference.
“The Conference will bring together local and international delegates to discuss, learn and share best practices on pertinent issues affecting sub-national governments and provide trade and investment opportunities for communities in Uasin Gishu and the neighboring Counties. We urge all stakeholders including members of the public to participate in the upcoming Conference,” noted the CoG Chair H.E. Anne Waiguru while addressing members of the press.
Over the last 9 years, the Council of Governors in collaboration with other devolution stakeholders, has hosted (7) Devolution Conferences across the Country with the previous Conferences being held in Kwale, Kisumu, Meru, Nakuru, Kakamega, Kirinyaga, and Makueni Counties. In line with the resolutions arising from the 6th Devolution Conference, it was agreed that the conferences would be hosted after every two years to allow sufficient time for partners to fully implement the resolutions that emanate from the conferences.
This year’s Devolution Conference will include a wide array of pre-conference activities. In appreciation of the need to elevate children’s voices in governance and development, the planning committee has organized a Children’s Conference to be held from 3rd to 7th July 2023 in Kiambu County under the Theme: Empowering young voices: A Decade of Devolution and the future of Children in Kenya.
Further, there will be various sports activities including a marathon which will be held on 15th August 2023 at the Kipchoge Keino Stadium. This is aimed at showcasing the sports prowess in Uasin Gishu, particularly in athletics, and promoting local talents from the grassroots.
In a bid to support the President’s vision of growing 15 Billion trees by 2032, the Conference steering committee will spearhead a tree-growing exercise aimed at growing one million trees. The tree-growing exercise will be undertaken simultaneously in all 47 Counties.
As part of the Devolution Conference, the Council of Governors will hold the Devolution Warrior Awards. The awards are aimed at recognizing and celebrating the efforts of individuals and institutions that have shown exemplary performance in promoting, protecting and championing devolution in Kenya. These awards are held after every 5 years, with the inaugural awards having been held during the 4th Annual Devolution Conference in 2017.
In addition, the Conference will feature rich panel discussions and break-out sessions that seek to address some of the key challenges affecting various sectors and emerging issues such as peace and security.
You can now register for the Biennial Devolution Conference 2023 by visiting the conference website www.devolutionconference.cog.go.ke or www.cog.go.ke
GOVERNORS CALL FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE REFORMS IN THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR
Written by CoG web Admin
The Council of Governors (CoG) Agriculture, Livestock and Cooperatives Committee led by the Chairperson, H.E. Rt. Hon. Ken Lusaka on 25th April 2023, held its quarterly meeting at Maanzoni Lodge, Machakos County. The forum sought to deliberate on the policy and legislative reforms in the agriculture and livestock sector and the status of the implementation of donor-funded projects and programmes. The meeting was graced by CoG Whip H.E. Stephen Sang, Vice Chair of the Committee H.E. Mutahi Kahiga, H.E. Muthomi Njuki, and H.E. Nathif Jama. Also in attendance were representatives of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), One Acre Fund and the Coffee Sub-Sector Reforms Standing Committee.
Making his opening remarks, H.E. Stephen Sang commended the steps taken by the Committee to initiate talks with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development to create solutions that will resolve the legislative barriers in the sector, increase productivity and income, especially for small-scale holders, while ensuring market security and equity.
"This forum will provide an opportunity for key players to interact, share ideas, harmonize policy, and establish effective and efficient strategic partnerships that will tackle the policy barriers that have been hindering the growth of this sector," added H.E. Stephen Sang.
Representing the chair of the CoG Agriculture, Livestock and Cooperatives Committee, Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga agreed with his counterpart on the need to join hands with the National Government to streamline the sector and ensure fair returns to farmers across the 32 coffee-producing Counties and ASAL Counties who are heavily dependent on cattle rearing.
"It is evident that there is an attempt by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development to ensure that the coordination of donor-funded projects and programmes in the agriculture and livestock sectors is centralized within the Ministry despite the sector being fully devolved," added H.E. Mutahi Kahiga while addressing members of the press.
As part of the resolutions, the Committee resolved to hold a consultative meeting with all the development partners funding various projects and programmes in the agriculture and livestock sectors across the country to agree on the modalities of its implementation and ensure that the challenges facing farmers are addressed.
Starting the financial year 2023/24, the Committee, in collaboration with Coffee Reforms Standing Committee, will take over the regulatory functions and reforms in the sub-sector as stipulated under the Coffee (General) Regulations, 2019 with a view of enhancing coffee production and productivity. Further, the Committee agreed to hold a retreat between the Excellency Governors and County Executive Committee Members in charge of Agriculture from the 32 coffee-growing Counties and the Agriculture & Food Authority (AFA), Capital Markets Authority (CMA), and Coffee Reforms Standing Committee to review and agree on the practical implementation of the proposed Coffee Bill, 2023.
"It is also good that we invite the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Livestock and the Honorable Senators from the 32 Coffee growing counties to deliberate on the Coffee Bill, 2023 to ensure it is best implemented by the County Governments," added Tharaka Nithi Governor H.E. Muthomi Njuki.
The Committee resolved to engage Parliament and the State Department for Livestock Development to fast-track the enactment of a legal framework to provide for the establishment of a dedicated Livestock Marketing Board. The Board will promote the marketing of livestock and livestock products in the country which is the center of development in Arid and Semi-Arid Counties’ economies.
In addition, the Committee approved the execution of an MoU between the Council of Governors and AGRA to provide a framework for collaboration and partnership in the transformation of the agricultural sector across the 47 County Governments. Lastly, the Committee agreed to engage with One Acre Fund on possible areas of collaboration and partnership in the development of the agricultural sector at the county level.
CALLED TO SERVE: DEPUTY GOVERNORS CALL FOR STRENGTHENED COLLABORATION TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES FACING COUNTIES
Written by CoG web Admin
The Deputy Governors Forum held a consultative meeting in Mombasa County from 18th -21st April 2023, to discuss matters related to the Office of the Deputy Governor as well as pertinent issues affecting County Governments. The workshop was opened by the Deputy President H.E. Rigathi Gachagua and graced by H.E. Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir, Governor of Mombasa County, Council of Governors (CoG) Whip H.E. Stephen Sang and the Principal Secretary, Devolution Ms. Teresiah M. Malokwe. Other dignitaries who joined the Deputy Governors meeting were: Chief Administrative Secretary, Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Hon. Joash Maangi; Vice Chairperson, Senate Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations Committee Senator Catherine Mumma; Vice Chairperson of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) Dr. Amani Komora; CoG CEO Ms. Mary Mwiti, a representative from LAPFUND; and representatives from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development (FCDO).
Speaking during the official opening ceremony, H.E. Rigathi Gachagua urged the Deputy Governors to remain committed to serving all Kenyans and supporting the County Chiefs to ensure smooth running of County affairs.
“Seek to cultivate a good working relationship with your bosses. Rather than competing with them, understand what their vision is and work together with them to ensure full realization as well as the delivery of the manifesto,” noted H.E. the Deputy President.
“The only way to restore the country’s economy is to enhance the National budget, improve Counties own source revenue collection and digitize government services to seal all loopholes for pilferage of public funds,” he added while highlighting the current cash crunch Counties are facing occasioned by delays in disbursements of equitable share by the exchequer.
CoG Whip H.E. Stephen Sang implored the Deputy President, who also Chairs the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC), to advance the devolution agenda and advocate for timely disbursement of resources to Counties for effective, efficient and sustainable service delivery.
“The Governors and Deputy Governors, through the CoG, will continue to work in collaboration with the Office of the President and the Deputy President to promote, protect and entrench the principles of devolution and all its tenets for the transformative growth of our nation and the development of its people,” said H.E. Stephen Sang.
Similarly, his Mombasa counterpart H.E. Hon. AbdullSwamad Shariff Nassir called upon the National Government to approve a proposal to have financial institutions buy off all approved and confirmed pending bills in the Counties for later repayment to ease the financial strain in the devolved units.
Critical issues discussed during the consultative forum included: strategies to strengthen the office of the Deputy Governor; value based leadership in public service; meaningful partnerships for County Governments; engagements with Parliament; and ongoing programmes and projects under the Kenya Devolution Support Program by FCDO.
While delivering his remarks H.E. Martin Moshisho, Chair, Deputy Governors Forum affirmed the unwavering commitment of his team to work with all state and non-state stakeholders to deliver the promise of devolution to all Kenyans.
“This is an opportunity for us to network and exchange ideas as our Counties settle into the first phase of the implementation of the County Integrated Development Plans. We’ve all had different experiences in the seven and a half months we have been in office and l hope we can share and learn from each other to ensure the effective execution of our mandates,” he added.
As stipulated by the Constitution and the County Governments Act, the Office of the Deputy Governor is key in implementation of the devolved system of governance in Kenya. To this end, it was agreed among others that: the Deputy Governors Forum will work with the Governors to strengthen the office of the Deputy Governor through clear definition of roles and responsibilities; the need to strengthen intergovernmental relations and review the laws that claw back on devolution; the Deputy Governors Executive will meet with the CoG Executive to discuss the participation of the Deputy Governors in the CoG technical committees; the Forum will work with the Senate to push for amendments to the County Governments Act in order to strengthen the office of the Deputy Governor; and the Deputy Governors Forum and the Office of the Deputy President to regularly meet to discuss matters of common interest.
THE ROLE OF ICT IN TRANSFORMING SERVICE DELIVERY IN COUNTY GOVERNMENTS
Written by CoG web Admin
The use of Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT) in government operations has been on the rise globally, and Kenya is no exception. The adoption of technology has not only transformed the way we live, work and communicate but also enhanced the ease of doing business across various sectors. In Kenya, County Governments have made significant strides towards mainstreaming ICT in their functions to improve service delivery and efficiency in their operations.
It is against this backdrop and the need for concerted efforts in driving the digital transformation agenda in the country, that the Council of Governors (CoG) ICT and Knowledge Management Committee held a high-level meeting with key stakeholders in the ICT sector in Mombasa County, on 27th March 2023. The meeting brought together the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Information, Communication and The Digital Economy – Mr. Eliud Owalo, Governors of the ICT and Knowledge Management Committee, Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK), the ICT Authority, Mastercard Foundation, and Konza Technopolis among other partners. This meeting came as a precursor to the induction of the County Executive Committee Members in charge of ICT held from 28th – 31st March 2023 under the theme 'ICT for improved service delivery at the County level'.
Speaking during the meeting, the CoG ICT and Knowledge Management Committee Chair H.E. Wisley Rotich lauded County Governments for the efforts made so far in integrating ICT into their functions.
“ICT mainstreaming involves automating manual processes with cutting-edge technologies to improve efficiency and effectiveness. We need to leverage ICT to make government services available to all Kenyans across the country and create jobs,” said Governor Rotich.
“The digital platform is the way of tomorrow and those who do not board will remain behind the rest of the world in the next few years. All vital sectors of the government and economies should make synergized efforts to pull together during this digital migration and in the future,” added CS Eliud Owalo.
County Governments have mainstreamed ICT in various functions including financial management, citizen service delivery and data management systems across various sectors such as health, education, and agriculture. In partnership with the National Government, all County Governments are under the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS), a system that automates financial management processes such as budgeting, procurement, accounting, and reporting. The system has been implemented in all counties and has significantly improved financial management, reduced fraud, and enhanced accountability.
The integration of ICT in County Government operations has resulted in improved service delivery to citizens, enhanced transparency, improved decision-making through data analytics and visualization, cost-effectiveness due to reduced paperwork and manual processes, and improved communication and collaboration between County officials and citizens.
Further, County Governments have adopted open data policies that make public data available to citizens. The Council of Governors is currently developing the Open County data portal that will provide data for all the devolved sectors.
Overall, the implementation of ICT has undoubtedly enhanced the delivery of services and citizen engagement in devolved units. However, more needs to be done to ensure that all citizens, especially those in rural areas, can access and benefit from these technologies.
COG INDUCTS COUNTY SECRETARIES IN A BID TO STREAMLINE SERVICE DELIVERY IN DEVOLVED UNITS.
Written by CoG web Admin
County Secretaries and Heads of public service on Tuesday, 22nd March 2023 began their 3-day induction workshop. The induction was aimed at appraising County Secretaries on their roles and responsibilities, ensuring continuity and sustainability of gains made in Public Service, and protecting the integrity and role of the Public Service.
In addition, the induction offered a platform for Government agencies, Development Partners, and Private Sector players to share knowledge on the policy developments and legal architecture of the devolved system of governance in relation to the public service management sector. Institutions represented include the State Department of Devolution, Kenya School of Government, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, United Nations Development Programme(UNDP), and LAPFUND.
Making his opening remarks, the Deputy Governor, of Mombasa County H.E. Francis Thoya commended the County Secretaries for dedicating their time to come and learn as well as share experiences with their peers despite their heavy schedules.
“As we progress in this workshop you will have an opportunity to consult amongst yourselves on matters of common interest as well as share experiences and best practices, especially from those who have been working in the docket before,” added H.E. Francis Thoya.
Speaking on behalf of the CEO Council of Governors (CoG), the Director, of legal Services Ms. Irene Ogamba underscored the importance of the induction highlighting the instrumental role played by the County secretaries in the management of the workforce in the devolved units.
“I urge you to ensure effective service delivery in the Counties and establish an appropriate balance between compliance with policies, regulations, norms, and standards in the provision of service delivery. Understanding your roles as well as the legal requirements will ensure accountability to stakeholders and optimal use of available resources,” said Ms. Irene Ogamba.
Addressing participants during the meeting UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Ngororano made a clarion call for continuous collaboration and partnerships towards achieving sustainable development for the people of Kenya. He noted that the progress made so far is commendable, but there is still a lot of work to be done.
“I pray that all County Governments continue to embrace evidence-based planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation for accountable service delivery while prioritizing the youth agenda and empowering SMEs. Together, we can build more resilient and inclusive County Governments that deliver quality services to all Kenyans,” concluded Mr. Ngororano.
As the various County Governments continue to gain stability after the appointment of County Executive Committee Members (CECMs) and Chief Officers (COs) of the various sectors among other County officials, County Secretaries have the arduous task of quickly learning the policies, laws, practices, and customs that govern their exercise of power and performance of functions while ensuring continuous service delivery to all citizens.
“We are confident that with the insights gained from this induction and lessons learned through the experiences of our fellow colleagues, we will be able to ensure the smooth running of all operations in the various departments and the County at large,” noted Mr. Billow Issack Hassan of Mandera County while giving his maiden speech as the newly elected Chairperson of the County Secretaries Caucus.
Similarly, Dr. Wesley Bor of Kericho County was elected the Vice Chairperson, Ms. Amy Ruria of Embu County the Secretary, and Mr. Ezekiel Ayiego of Vihiga County the Treasurer.
LEGAL SECTOR HIGH-LEVEL DISCOURSE TOWARDS WORKING TOGETHER AND DELIVERING AS ONE
Written by CoG web Admin
The Council of Governors (CoG) Committee on Legal, Constitutional, and Intergovernmental Affairs held its inaugural retreat on February 27th, 2023, at PrideInn Paradise, Mombasa County under the theme: 'Towards a vibrant legal sector that supports the implementation of the 2010 constitution taking cognizance of the devolved functions; working together and delivering as one'. The meeting sought to provide a platform for consultation, collaboration, cooperation, and consensus building between the National and County Governments on legal, constitutional, and human rights issues that affect Kenya.
In attendance were Governors from the Legal Committee led by the Committee Chair H.E. Mutula Kilonzo Jr, Deputy Chief Justice (DCJ), Her Ladyship, Philomena Mwilu, Speaker of the Senate, Rt. Hon. Amason Kingi, Senate, and National Assembly Legal committees, County Assemblies Forum (CAF), Kenya Law Reform Commission (KLRC), Commission on Administrative Justice, and County Attorneys among other stakeholders.
“The two levels of government, National and County, are distinct and interdependent and shall conduct their mutual relations on the basis of consultation, collaboration, and cooperation,” noted the Committee Chair, H.E. Kilonzo Jr while underscoring the importance of the forum in canvasing emerging issues in the sector.
Additionally, the Chair acknowledged the critical role played by County Attorneys as provided in the Office of the County Attorneys Act, 2020. The County Attorneys are expected to among others: act as the principal legal advisors to the County Government and represent the County executive in court or in any other legal proceedings to which the County executive is a party, other than criminal proceedings; advise departments in the County executive on legislative and other legal matters; negotiate, draft, vet, and interpret documents and agreements for and on behalf of the County Executive and its agencies; and undertake the revision of County laws.
Speaking during the meeting, DCJ Philomena Mwilu reiterated the commitment of the Judiciary to the rule of law and the realization of a functional, responsive, representative, and effective devolved system of governance.
“A key promise of the 2010 Constitution, the devolved system of government captures the hopes and aspirations of all Kenyans for self-governance and participation in public affairs; a more accessible, transparent, accountable and democratic system of governance; and of fair and equitable social and economic development for all peoples and regions of Kenya,” She noted.
The DCJ further lauded County Governments for their continued support of the judiciary in its efforts to enhance physical access to justice for every Kenyan. The judiciary has embarked on an ambitious plan to improve proximity to courts to less than 100 kilometers by establishing and operationalizing a Magistrates’ Court in each sub-county/constituency and establishing and operationalizing a High Court and courts of equal status, in each County.
“The support we have received from County Governments in this regard is invaluable. County Governments have provided the Judiciary spaces to host courts and have also pledged parcels of land for the construction of court premises” added her Ladyship Philomena Mwilu.
The meeting deliberated on pertinent issues including the roles of each actor, how they impact each other and strategies to enhance intergovernmental relations between and among actors; the laws and policies that claw back on devolution with a view of reviewing them; appropriation of court fees and fines emanating from County legislation, as well as prosecution of County legislation; joint capacity building initiatives for actors for effective delivery on their mandates; enhancing transparency and accountability and better allocation of resources for efficient service delivery in the Counties; and resource mobilization for the sector to deliver better socio-economic outcomes.
Stakeholders agreed to work together in ensuring that devolution is implemented in a way that translates into the stated constitutional objectives. Further, they agreed on strategies geared towards enhancing access to justice through alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and bringing courts closer to the people.
COG PARTICIPATES IN THE 67th SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN (CSW67)
Written by CoG web Admin
The 67th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) was held from 6th to 17th March 2023 in New York, under the priority theme: ‘Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls’ and the review theme: ‘Challenges and opportunities in achieving Gender Equality of rural women and girls’.
The forum brought together representatives of the United Nations (UN) Member States, UN entities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private sector, international delegates and other key stakeholders from all regions of the world to discuss emerging issues affecting gender equality and the plight of women and girls. Also in attendance were Excellency Governors including the Council of Governors (CoG) Chair H.E. Anne Waiguru, H.E. Cecily Mbarire, H.E. Wavinya Ndeti, H.E. Gladys Wanga, H.E. Susan Kihika and the CEO, CoG Mary Mwiti.
In appreciation of the intrinsic linkages between land and agriculture and the critical role played by women in agricultural production, the Council of Governors (CoG) and the State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action co-hosted a side event on: ‘Closing the gender gap, investing in digitization of land to protect women’s lands rights and to promote food security’. The panel session, moderated by H.E. Cecily Mbarire, brought on board Excellency Governors, Members of Parliament, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the Commission on Administrative Justice, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) as well as international representatives.
“The agriculture industry in Kenya today is becoming more intelligent, digitized, more innovative, and technologically driven in an effort to strengthen its food systems and improve security. This includes investment in ICTs, mechanization, and irrigation technologies,” noted the CoG Chair.
“Food security holds the key to the prosperity of any country and we need to work together to ensure that we provide our growing populations with safe, sufficient, and nutritious food,” added H.E. Cecily Mbarire.
The side event also provided a platform to showcase the innovations and best practices relating to food and nutrition security that contribute to effective progression in empowering women to take up leadership responsibilities at all levels of society.
One of the notable best practices highlighted includes the FAO/UN Women Climate Smart Agriculture project that is being implemented in Kitui, Laikipia, and West Pokot Counties. The project seeks to strengthen the Kenyan government’s capacity to provide a gendered perspective and promote gender equity and equality in the adoption and implementation of climate-resilient agriculture approaches. This is part of the efforts to build resilience and adapt to climate change in the ASALs.
In the same breadth, the Kirinyaga Wezesha programme was singled out for its success in supporting farmer’s groups, whose members are mostly women, to increase productivity, boost their earnings, and add value to their farm produce by leveraging innovation.
During the CSW67 Excellency Governors led by the CoG Chair H.E. Anne Waiguru also held meetings with various stakeholders to discuss possible areas of partnerships and mutual cooperation in advancing the gender equality and women empowerment agenda.
In this regard, Dr. Gaudiose Mujawamariya, the Rice Value Chain Expert and Gender Focal Point, at Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) invited the Kenyan Governors to partner with AfricaRice in achieving food and nutrition security and improving the livelihoods of farmers and other rice value-chain actors in Kenya.
STRENGTHENING HUMAN RESOURCES TO ADDRESS KEY ISSUES IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE
Written by CoG web Admin
Council of Governors (CoG) Human Resources and Social Welfare Committee chaired by H.E. Johnson Sakaja held the induction of County Executive Committee Members (CECMs) in charge of Public Service and Administration from 21st – 23rd February at PrideInn Paradise hotel, Mombasa County.
The induction, which comes after the 2022 general elections that ushered in the 3rd cycle of County Governments in Kenya, was aimed at providing an overview of the public service sector and the policy, legal and regulatory frameworks for service delivery.
Speaking during the official opening ceremony of the workshop, Governor Sakaja echoed the need for County Governments to utilize performance contracting in order to improve service delivery in the Counties.
“The Council in 2018 adopted the performance management contracting framework. I call upon all of you as the Chair of the Human Resource Committee to implement this framework in the next 4 months in order to strengthen service delivery to mwananchi. Let’s all target to be on performance contract by July 1st 2023,” noted H.E. Johnson Sakaja.
The Governor further emphasized that CECMs for public service play a crucial role in the management and development of Human Resources in the County Governments and therefore, are expected to put in place practices, systems, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations that are aligned to building a highly-skilled, agile and responsive public sector workforce.
In this regard, the County ministers are expected to: ensure transformation of public service into a reliable engine for socio-economic development; create the right culture by inculcating values, principles and attitudes in public servants as outlined in Articles 10 and 232 of the Constitution; inculcate a mind-set of citizen-centricity and continuous improvement; leverage on innovation and technology for the transformation of the service; establish measures and mechanisms of tapping the enormous potential residing in youth; and address challenges affecting public service delivery among others.
While addressing CECMs, the Principal Secretary, Ministry of Public Service, Gender and Affirmative Action noted that the Ministry will continue to initiate and implement various policies and reforms focusing on strengthening human resource management and development practices to make the wider public service more responsive and prompt in the provision of services to the citizens.
“I urge you to customize and implement the public service policies and initiatives where applicable, to strengthen County public service,” added Mr. Amos Gathecha.
The aforementioned initiatives by the Ministry include: implementation of the Kenya Devolution Support Programme (KDSP) geared towards strengthening of the human resource systems in County Governments; providing technical assistance and support to Counties in the development and domestication of human resource development policies; undertaking needs assessment to inform skills and capacity gaps and thereby ensure proper identification and designing of efficient and effective interventions; mobilizing resources from development partners in form of scholarships and other forms training opportunities to build the capacity of both National and County Governments; establishment of the Unified Human Resource (UHR) Information System to ensure that the public service has a single source of human resource/payroll for decision making; and implementation of norms and standards for managing human resources in the public service, among others.
The CECMs Public Service and Administration caucus also held its elections where Mr. Andrew Nakitare CECM Public Service, Busia County was elected as the Chair of the Caucus, deputized by Ms. Peninah Burtuin of Baringo. Dr. Kipngetich from Bomet County was unanimously elected as the Treasurer while Ms. Judy Oluoch from Kisumu the Secretary. The CECMs considered gender and regional balance as well as experience during their consensus election decision for their leadership.
More...
COUNTY FINANCE MINISTERS’ INDUCTED ON PUBLIC FINANCE MANAGEMENT: A CORNERSTONE OF NATIONAL AND LOCAL DEVELOPMENT
Written by CoG web Admin
County Executive Committee Members (CECMs) for Finance and Economic Planning play a central role in planning and budget implementation in the County. They exercise the powers bestowed to them by the Constitution, the County Governments Act and the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act.
Premised on the above, the Council of Governors (CoG) held an induction programme for CECMs in charge of Finance and Economic Planning from 21st – 24th February, 2023 at the Pride Inn Hotel, Mombasa. The programme sought to equip these County officers with extensive knowledge on the legal and institutional framework surrounding Public Finance Management.
Further, the induction offered a platform for sector players drawn from the National Government, Constitutional Commissions, Independent Offices, Development Partners and the Private Sector among others, to share collective knowledge on the policy and legal architecture of the devolved system of governance that relates to the sector.
Speaking during the meeting, CoG Finance, Planning and Economic Affairs Committee Chair H.E. FCPA Fernandes Barasa reiterated the importance of the induction programme ahead of active implementation of pending as well as new projects in the Counties.
“During this induction workshop you will have an opportunity to consult amongst yourselves as County Governments and the Finance and Economic Planning sector players on matters of common interest, share information and best practices on performance of the assigned functions as stipulated in the Fourth Schedule and any other related laws and policies governing the sector and engage in peer to peer learning,” said Governor Barasa.
To this end, there are several pertinent issues in the finance sector for consideration that require all stakeholders to come together for effective implementation, including: finalization of the County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs) that are currently being developed; effective sector planning including the formulation, prioritization of sector budgeting and financing including lobbying for resources and establishing a working relationship with the County Assemblies; implementation of sector devolved functions i.e., implementation of the devolved function of County planning and development; and strengthening inter-governmental relations and stakeholder engagement leveraging on various strengths such as resource mobilization for the Counties among others.
To address some of the critical issues highlighted above, the multi stakeholder forum came up with a number of resolutions. As an initial but important step, the County Government Act and other laws need be amended to raise the threshold of censuring CECM members from one third to at least two-thirds of respective members of the county assembly (MCA). This will give CECMs a higher degree of independence and protection from unnecessary harassment and disruptions when discharging their duties.
Further, there is a need to create awareness of the potential of the County Governments to enhance Own Source Revenue (OSR). This can be achieved through the diversification of revenue streams and automation of revenue management. Currently, the CoG is working together with key stakeholders and the County Governments on OSR enhancement, innovative financing models such as the Facility Improvement Fund (FIF), and increasing awareness and uptake of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). This will in turn improve County Governments’ fiscal autonomy and augment the share of nationally raised revenue.
The CECMs caucus ended their induction with the election of their caucus leadership where the CECM, Finance and Economic Planning, Isiolo County, Hon. Banticha Abdullahi Jaldesa was unanimously elected as the Chair and his Kiambu Counterpart Ms. Nancy Kirumba elected the Vice Chair. The caucus further elected CPA Emily Ongaga of Nyamira County and Alphaeus K. Tanui of Elgeyo Marakwet as the Secretary and Treasurer respectively.
COG AND MINISTRY OF TRADE VISIT TATU CITY, TWIGA FOODS AND KIRDI ON BENCH MARK TOUR
Written by CoG web Admin
Trade CS Hon. Moses Kuria and a section of Governors led by the Council of Governors (CoG) Chairperson H.E. Anne Waiguru on Thursday 23rd February 2023, visited Tatu City, Twiga Foods Aggregation Centre and the Kenya Industrial Research & Development Institute (KIRDI) on a benchmark tour. The visit sought to provide key insights on the dynamics of setting up industrial parks in the Counties, securing markets for goods and services as well as exploiting potential value chain opportunities.
Speaking during a consultative meeting between the Office of the President, Council of Governors, and the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry held at Statehouse after the tour, H.E. President William Ruto affirmed the commitment of the National Government to work in collaboration with County Governments to promote investment and trade in both domestic and international markets to spur socio-economic growth.
The President further noted that County Governments play an integral role in industrial park development especially in identification and allocation of suitable land, securing financing, and provision of necessary infrastructure such as roads, electricity, water, and sewage. In addition, Counties play a critical role in facilitating market links by connecting the park's businesses with suppliers, customers, and other stakeholders.
“As the National Government, we pledge to give every County 100 million shillings to enable each County Government to construct an industrial park and aggregation center which will ensure value addition of all our farm produce before getting goods into the market,” added President William Ruto.
The CoG Chair H.E. Anne Waiguru indicated that Tatu City and other industrial parks are critical enablers of increased investments in Counties as well as the growth of local economies.
“I am confident that our study visit today will give us valuable insights into the potential of partnership in development of aggregation centers. This will reduce post-harvest losses, ensure better distribution of quality products and create more job opportunities at the County Level,” added H.E. Anne Waiguru during a visit at the Twiga Foods Aggregation Centre.
In the same breadth, CS Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry Hon. Moses kuria noted that Tatu City is one of the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) that are transforming this country by providing access and opportunity to our local farmers and investors.
“Industrial parks have the capacity to provide significant economic benefits to the Counties by increasing tax revenues and productivity. Tatu City is a good model of how County Governments can set up mixed-use industrial parks as Special Economic Zones,” said Hon. Moses Kuria.
Giving her remarks the CoG Trade, Industry, Manufacturing and Enterprise Development Committee Chairperson H.E. Wavinya Ndeti highlighted that Counties have the potential to bridge the youth unemployment gap through industrialization.
“I look forward to increased capacity of the County Governments to establish and develop profitable industrial enterprises. This will be achieved through providing a conducive environment for investors, exploring partnership with the private sector, building sufficient and reliable infrastructure as well as enhancing value addition and agro processing,” added H.E. Wavinya Ndeti.
At the end of the Statehouse meeting, it was agreed that the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry and the CoG Trade, Industry, Manufacturing and Enterprise Development Committee will: establish an intergovernmental forum to strengthen concerted efforts between the two levels of Government and address emerging issues in the sector; work together to review the policies and legislations in the sector to support devolution; work together to address the cost of doing business in the country which includes harmonization of multiplicity of taxes, levies, fees and charges and; develop the minimum requirements for County Governments to access the Ksh. 100 Million allocated for establishment of Industrial Parks and aggregate centers among others.
COG HOLDS INDUCTION FOR TRANSPORT, ROADS AND PUBLIC WORKS CECMS IN BID TO IMPROVE MANAGEMENT OF THE SECTOR
Written by CoG web Admin
The Council of Governors (CoG) in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nation under the Digital Land Governance Programme held an induction workshop for County Executive Committee Members (CECMs) in charge of Transport, Roads and Public Works from 20th February to 24th February 2023 at Lake Naivasha resort. Among those in attendance were H.E. Hon. David Kones, Deputy Governor, Nakuru County, Eng. James Kung'u, Chief Engineer from the State department of roads, Eng. Philemon Kandie, Director General, Kenya Rural Roads Authority, Mr. George Njao, Director General - National Transport and Safety Authority, Eng. Silas Kinoti, Director General - Kenya Urban Roads Authority, Eng. Eric Ohaga, President -Institute of Engineers of Kenya, Joachim Nyarangi, President of the Kenya Institute of Planners and Maureen Kinyua & Chris Korst from the Institution for Transport Policy & Development (ITDP).
Speaking during the official opening H.E. Hon. David Kones lauded the CECMs for their appointment noting the critical role that the forum would play in addressing key issues plaguing the roads and transport sector.
“Roads have been identified as a key enabler of vision 2030. An efficient, safe and reliable road and transport network will spur the socio-economic development of our towns and communities. Additionally, it is key to the achievement of all the other goals that a government wishes to attain,” said Hon. David Kones.
The workshop highlighted the following: programs and projects under the Ministry of Transport and the respective road agencies; areas of partnership and collaboration; Road Maintenance Levy Fuel Fund (RMLF) allocation to County Governments and its impact on road management and maintenance; Road Inventory and Condition Survey (RICS); update of the cost estimation manual; road network data management and dissemination and; formulation of the County Transportation and Safety committees.
Members were also taken through: national, regional, county, and community planning frameworks; urban mobility including developing bus rapid transit systems, promoting non-motorized transportation, and improving private bus operators' margins and; complete street network design principles, elements, templates and designs.
Additionally, Prof. Mutakha Kangu gave an overview of the clamour for the new Constitution and change in governance system, objectives and principles of devolution and unbundling, costing and transfer of sector functions.
“Transferred functions should be accompanied with resources to enable County Governments effectively deliver services to all Kenyans,” noted Director Committees at CoG Mr. Kizito Wangalwa.
“The Titling of Land is as good as the process of registering it. Digitization and digitalization is the solution to better land governance in Kenya,” emphasized Ms. Husna Mbarak of FAO.
Key resolutions arising from the workshop include: Kenya Roads Board to work with all County Governments to develop, review, and validate the road register; road agencies to consult, engage, and collaborate with Counties in their planning to avoid duplication of efforts; Counties to consider developing e-policing systems and traffic management technology; National Transportation and Safety Authority (NTSA) to cooperate with the CoG and County Governments to facilitate the formation of County Transportation and Safety committees; Counties to work with NTSA in enforcement of regulations governing illegal PSVs and boda bodas; CoG to be included in the review of the 2009 Integrated National Transport Policy and the Roads Act, 2007 to create an enabling legislative environment for the sector; and the CoG to consider adopting and promoting the ITDP Street Design Manual for urban areas in Kenya.
Further, Professional organizations, such as Engineers Board of Kenya, Institution of Engineers of Kenya, and Kenya Institute of Planners, were invited to collaborate closely with Counties to ensure that infrastructure projects are designed, approved, and implemented by certified professionals. County Governments were also urged to prioritize physical land use planning before the design, approval, and implementation of any project and to consider inclusive transit-oriented development policies that link land use policies to transportation investment to improve access to jobs, schools and recreational facilities.
During the induction, the CECMs elected their caucus leadership as follows: Chairperson - Eng. Drice Rono of Nandi County; Vice Chairperson - Hon. Stephen Mburu KK of Nyandarua County; Secretary - Cathrene Kenga of Kilifi County; and 2 members, Simon Orimba, Kisumu County and Amina Hassan, Mandera County.
REFLECT, REVIEW, RESTRATEGIZE: COG HOLDS SEMI-ANNUAL REVIEW WORKSHOP IN BID TO BOOST PERFORMANCE
Written by CoG web Admin
The Council of Governors (CoG) held its semi-annual review meeting in Nanyuki, Laikipia County from 15th – 17th February 2023, in a bid to reflect on and evaluate the performance of the Council for the first half of the FY 2022-2023 and the status of implementation of the strategic plan 2022-2027.
Making her opening remarks CoG CEO Ms. Mary Mwiti emphasized the need to work as a team in order to realize the CoG vision - to have prosperous Counties that are drivers of socio-economic growth and development and quality service delivery.
“Let us maximize on our strengths and the low lying fruits as we work towards achieving our vision. Though we might face new challenges and threats as we forge on, let us remember that in the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity and together, we will deliver on the promise of devolution,” she added.
This comes even as the Council recently launched the CoG Strategic Plan 2022-2027 anchored on the following key strategic pillars: Good governance and institutional capacity for sustainable service delivery in the Counties; Intergovernmental Relations and devolution; and CoG’s Institutional development.
While the implementation of the Strategic Plan 2022–2027 has not been without challenges, notable milestones have been achieved both at an institutional level and in enhancement of service delivery to the citizens.
Speaking during the workshop, the head of planning Ms. Rosemary Njaramba commended the technical committee leads for their endearing commitment and dedication in supporting the Council execute its mandate and establish itself as the think tank of devolution.
“Over the past one year we have managed to have a competitive advantage in the coordination of devolved functions, given the partnerships we have fostered in the devolution space with both private and public actors. The partnerships have also strengthened the CoG brand and strategically positioned CoG as a focal point for support and linkage with the National and County Government,” noted Ms. Rosemary Njaramba.
Sector Committee technical leads and departments were taken through among others: performance contracting as a performance management tool; knowledge management as an integral component of all facets of an institution; development of position papers, policy papers and policy briefs; and a review of the Intergovernmental Relations Act, 2012 to identify any laws that may claw back on the gains of devolution.
Among the notable achievements highlighted include: the development of various sector induction manuals; induction of Governors, Deputy Governors, and CECMs; review of various policies and legislation to ensure that they are aligned with devolution; supporting the smooth transition of county leadership; enhancing the capacity of 47 Counties in CIDP development; and mobilizing resources to support the various activities of CoG. Further, the Chairs of the CoG Technical Committees have been appraised on their roles and responsibilities as well as other pertinent issues affecting the sectors.