Nakuru County, IGRTC Seek to Resolve Delayed Asset Transfers and Strengthen Devolution
By Roy Lumbe
Nakuru County, in collaboration with the Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee (IGRTC), is actively working to expedite the transfer of public assets and enhance service delivery under devolution.
In a consultative meeting held at the County Headquarters between Deputy Governor H E David Kones and IGRTC Vice-Chair Ms. Saadia Abdi, both parties underscored the importance of finalizing the handover of land, buildings, and vehicles from defunct local authorities.
During the discussions, IGRTC confirmed that all 280 vehicles and motorcycles initially reported missing had been located; however, a formal valuation is necessary before the transfer can be completed.
Furthermore, initiatives are underway to promote shared use of resources between public primary schools and Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centers through an intergovernmental agreement, which aims to ensure better management of educational facilities.
The meeting also addressed Nakuru’s management of library services as stipulated in Legal Notice No. 142 of August 2019. The county has already assumed control of operations and staff salaries for libraries in Gilgil and Naivasha as of July 2023.
However, Deputy Governor Kones raised concerns about the status of the Nakuru Town Library, which has yet to be devolved. In response, Ms. Abdi indicated that ongoing consultations are planned between Nakuru County and the Kenya National Library Service (KNLS).
To mitigate costly legal disputes, Ms. Abdi emphasized the need for Nakuru to adopt Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms for handling intergovernmental conflicts.
Additionally, the committee outlined plans to digitize future Summit meetings as part of the government’s e-governance strategy. Governors will undergo training on digital platforms to enhance coordination and improve service delivery.
Nakuru is set to benefit from strengthened sectoral forums in agriculture, health, and water, with plans to develop collaboration frameworks in trade and ICT.
IGRTC also advised the county to establish intergovernmental units, as specified in Gazette Notice No. 70 of 2022, to streamline coordination between national and county governments.
Both Nakuru County and IGRTC reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing collaboration, aiming to address outstanding issues and ensure that devolution provides meaningful benefits to residents through efficient public services.
Chief Officers Joseph Malinda (Finance) and Charles Koech (Public Service), who attended the meeting, praised the committee’s efforts and urged for the expedited transfer of crucial functions, such as the Nakuru Town Library, emphasizing the importance of fully devolving library services to the county.