Kakamega: Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa has called on Members of Parliament to pass legislation allowing county governments to directly control the Roads Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF). The Governor said the counties had a stronger role in infrastructure planning and implementation in their respective jurisdictions.
According to Kenya News Agency, speaking Thursday in Malava Sub-county, where he oversaw the distribution of essential drugs and pharmaceuticals to health facilities, Governor Barasa said it was unconstitutional for the national government to manage funds meant for local infrastructure without involving counties. “The MPs are frustrating devolution,” he said. “We have a right to claim close to Sh10.5 billion for counties to implement road maintenance projects more efficiently.”
The Roads Maintenance Levy, currently pegged at Sh25 per litre of petrol and diesel, is collected by the Kenya Roads Board and managed at the National level. Funds from the levy are distributed to National road agencies such as the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), and Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA).
Governors have protested that this arrangement sidelines counties, even though the majority of road networks fall under county authority. The Council of Governors (CoG) has been at the forefront of the push for a legal framework that ensures a share of the levy is directly allocated to counties.
Governor Barasa maintained that devolving control of the roads fund would enhance efficiency and transparency and allow counties to prioritize roads based on local needs. “Counties are best placed to identify, plan and execute road projects that have the greatest impact on the people. It’s also our constitutional right,” he said.
The governor’s remarks are likely to intensify the national conversation around devolution and equitable resource sharing, as pressure mounts on Parliament to review the current structure of infrastructure funding.