President William Ruto has signed into law the County Allocation of Revenue Bill, 2025, and the County Public Finance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023, during the Devolution Conference held in Homa Bay. These laws formalize the full transfer of all outstanding devolved functions as outlined in Kenya's fourth schedule of the constitution, along with the necessary resources. The County Allocation of Revenue Bill allocates Ksh.415 billion as the equitable share to counties. Additionally, county assemblies have been granted fiscal and administrative independence, allowing them financial autonomy from county executives. President Ruto announced the gazettement of immovable assets, including 50,000 parcels of land and 80,000 buildings, to be legally transferred to county governments. He highlighted that over the past 12 years, a total of Sh4 trillion has been transferred to counties, and despite fiscal constraints, the government has cleared all outstanding balances owed to counties for the just-ended financial year. Ruto emphasized the importance of efficient resource utilization and condemned corruption within government institutions, accusing Members of Parliament and judges of undermining the fight against graft. He also dismissed opposition slogans such as "Ruto must go," urging them to present concrete plans ahead of the 2027 elections. Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, speaking at the conference, advocated for stronger county assemblies with financial autonomy, a balance of power between national and county governments, and further devolution, including education up to secondary school and authority over urban and rural roads. Odinga also called for digital devolution to enhance service delivery and combat corruption. He criticized the Senate's practice of summoning governors to Nairobi for oversight, suggesting that county matters should be handled locally. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) called for justice and accountability for victims of last year's protests, supporting the creation of a compensation committee. The conference also featured debates on governance, youth engagement, and the challenges facing devolution in Kenya.
Raila: It's a waste of time for Senators to keep summoning Governors https://t.co/baC3fTt6m8
Evans Kipkorir Serem – Youth Leader: We should critique national issues while offering solutions, without necessarily focusing on negativity and chanting ‘Ruto must go’ #CitizenDayBreak https://t.co/9uNtnU025W
Philip Pande – Youth Inclusive Advisor: You cannot have your cake and eat it too. The issue ailing this country is not just the president. Who elected the Members of Parliament? It’s the people. Everyone must share the blame #CitizenDayBreak https://t.co/Upbnx5giWe