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Government seeks donor help in devolution

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Nairobi, Kenya


The Cabinet Secretary for Devolution and Planning Ms. Anne Waiguru has called for the establishment of a framework for the coordination of donor funding to counties. Emphasizing that programme funding and technical support towards counties must be aligned to national priorities,Ms Waiguru said that enhanced collaboration between the Government and development partners would be vital to ensuring harmony with the national policy framework and equitable development across counties.

While acknowledging the support extended by development partners towards devolution, Ms. Waiguru underscored that the priorities set out in the Kenya Vision 2030 and the Second Medium Term Plan will remain critical to guiding both the national and county development plans to ensure harmony. The Cabinet Secretary was addressing a meeting with development partners at a Nairobi hotel today, together with Cabinet Secretaries Mr. Henry Rotich of the National Treasury and Amb. Amina Mohammed of Foreign Affairs.

The meeting was convened to discuss the establishment of a Devolution Sector Working Group to address issues relating to support for devolved government. Ms. Waiguru assured the development partners of the Government’s commitment to devolution and highlighted the national government’s role in assisting county governments in building their capacity and empowering them to provide the services for which they are responsible. She said that through the Kenya School of Government, her Ministry would ensure that the capacity building efforts were harmonised across counties.

The Cabinet Secretary noted that the transfer of functions from national to county government is guided by the Constitution, citing the Fourth Schedule which defines the functions of the two levels of government. She said that a framework under development would guide the way government engages donors. Citing priority areas under the national budget released earlier this month, Treasury Secretary Mr. Rotich pointed to the key role donors are expected to play in supporting the country to realise its development aspirations.

He applauded the fruitful engagement between the Government and the development partners and appealed for enhanced collaboration through the Sector Working Groups, to ensure a more coordinated approach and predictability of donor support. He expressed confidence that the Kenya External Resources Policy, which outlines the principles of engagement would adequately address existing challenges associated with donor funding.

Mr. Rotich further clarified that coordination would reduce counties’ transaction costs. In her remarks, Amb. Mohamed said that the open discussions with donors would form a crucial foundation to the Government’s relations with her partners particularly in fostering economic diplomacy. She said that her Ministry was looking to enhanced diplomatic relations and would engage development partners in finalizing Kenya’s Foreign Policy document currently under development.

The meeting was also addressed by the World Bank Country Director Ms. Diaretou Gaye, United States Ambassador to Kenya Mr. Robert F. Godec , German Ambassador to Kenya Ms. Margit Hell Wig-Botte and British High Commissioner to Kenya Dr. Christian Turner.

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LUKE MULUNDA
LUKE MULUNDAhttp://Businesstoday.co.ke
Managing Editor, BUSINESS TODAY. Email: [email protected]. ke
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