Let the funds follow the functions, says Council of Governors

Let the funds follow the functions, says Council of Governors

𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟔, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒
𝐁𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬

Senate Standing Committee on Energy today met with the Council of Governors’ Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Energy. 

The purpose of the meeting was to deliberate on factors affecting the effective implementation of devolved functions in energy, including zoning, physical planning, infrastructural development, land regulation and county taxes and levies.

Marsabit Governor, Mohamud Ali who chairs the Council of Governors committee on Transport and Infrastructure and Energy said that the county governments have been partnering with Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) through the Matching Fund Program for the execution and implementation of electrification projects.

Further, he told the senate committee that the county governments work with the private sector to develop mini grids in areas where the grid is not available, giving example in Busia County Government that has partnered with KUDURA power to supply power in some parts of the county.

“County governments are unable to fully implement the electrification mandate due to the financial constraints and the fact that resources made for the devolved function are appropriated to National Agencies such as REREC.” The Governor told the committee. 

Senator Wahome Wamatinga who is also the chair of the Senate Committee on Energy said that there is need for legislation to guide the county governments on how they should implement electricity reticulation. 

He added that the legislation properly delineate the functions on National government and those of the county government when it comes to electricity reticulation.

The Council of Governors recommended to the Senate Committee that Kenya Generating Company should be responsible for large-scale power plant development, the Kenya Transmission Corporation be responsible for high voltage transmission and system operations, Kenya Power and Lighting Company handle wholesale power supply while county governments manage retail supply as well as the development of renewable energy and small hydro power plants.

The council of Governor told the Senate Committee on Energy that there are no infrastructure for gas reticulation system in the counties. This is because the country primarily uses Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), which is transported by truck and distributed using LPG cylinders and there has been no policy or legal framework to guide implementation of this function. 

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna said that there is need for national policy and legislation to guide county governments on how they should implement gas reticulation. 

The council of Governors said that t different counties through their spatial plans have assigned land for provision of centralized petroleum tanker parking in counties.