By John Waithaka

Hon. Teddy Mwambire, the Speaker of Kilifi County Assembly, has raised serious concerns over the recent signing of the “Division of Revenue Allocation Bill” (DORA) by the President. According to Hon. Mwambire, the drastic reduction in budgetary allocations for County Assemblies threatens to paralyze their operations and undermine the essence of devolution in Kenya.

While acknowledging the President’s constitutional mandate to sign DORA into law, Hon. Mwambire criticized the lack of consultation with County Assemblies before the decision was finalized. “Looking at the huge amounts reduced in terms of our ceilings, it’s evident that our assemblies will be unable to operate,” he stated. “We should have been involved to share our views before such decisions were made and executed.”

Hon. Mwambire warned that these cuts represent one of the most challenging moments for County Assemblies since the advent of devolution. He called on the Senate to reconsider its approach to County Assembly funding, emphasizing that “functions follow resources.” Without sufficient funding, he argued, County Assemblies would struggle to perform their legislative and oversight roles, weakening the entire framework of devolved governance.

“This blatant removal of allocations signals a lack of goodwill,” Hon. Mwambire lamented. “When you cripple County Assemblies, you ultimately paralyze the other organs of devolution. Devolution is under very serious threat.”

Hon. Mwambire urged all stakeholders to protect the spirit of devolution by addressing these financial challenges and ensuring inclusivity in decision-making processes. For him, safeguarding County Assemblies is critical to the survival and success of devolution, which millions of Kenyans depend on for essential services and development.