Council of Governors petitions Parliament to ouster controller of Budget

County Governments are on a warpath with the Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang'o, accusing her office of systematically frustrating devolved units.

The Council of Governors has escalated the standoff, announcing its intention to petition Parliament for Nyakang'o's removal, citing "intransigent and unreasonable" conduct that has led to persistent financial gridlocks

The latest salvo in the protracted battle between the CoG and the CoB was fired by Wajir Governor FCPA Ahmed Abdullahi, who serves as the CoG Chair.i

 Speaking emphatically, Governor Abdullahi warned that the council is prepared to pursue all legal avenues, including a parliamentary petition, to end what he termed "unacceptable" bureaucratic bottlenecks.

"We want to send a clear warning to her as a Council, we are now ready to go the legal route. We will petition both Houses of Parliament for her removal because she has made it nearly impossible for the average Kenyan to benefit from county government services," stated Governor Abdullahi.

The core of the dispute lies in the CoB's alleged introduction of new, stringent disbursement conditions, colloquially known as the "blue checklist," which counties must adhere to before funds are released. 

Governors claim these new requirements are arbitrary and have been introduced without adequate explanation.

"When we sought clarification on why she was introducing a new checklist at the tail end of the requisition process, she refused to meet with the Council or offer any explanation.

She seems hell-bent on frustrating counties from utilizing their budgets," a governor, who requested anonymity, was quoted as saying.

The CoG further alleges that the Controller of Budget's high-handedness and bias have resulted in the delayed release of crucial county funds, with some counties yet to receive their April and May allocations due to what they describe as her refusal to approve their budget

 This has crippled county operations, particularly affecting critical services and the disbursement of bursaries for needy students.

This is not the first time the Controller of Budget has faced the wrath of the counties. Earlier this year, Dr. Nyakang'o drew widespread criticism for directing all 47 counties to halt the issuance of bursaries, arguing that education support falls under the national government. 

This decision sparked significant debate and even prompted intervention from the national government. Murang'a County, among others, went as far as suing Dr. Nyakang'o for contempt of court, accusing her of defying orders related to bursary disbursements.

The process for removing a Controller of Budget in Kenya is elaborate and is enshrined in Article 251 of the Constitution. It typically involves a petition to the National Assembly, which, if satisfied that grounds for removal exist such as serious violation of the Constitution or gross misconduct, would then send the petition to the President. 

The President may then suspend the officeholder and appoint a tribunal to investigate the charges and make a binding recommendation.

As the standoff intensifies, all eyes will be on Parliament to see how it addresses the CoG's formidable petition and the implications for the delicate balance of financial oversight and devolution in Kenya. 

The outcome will undoubtedly have significant ramifications for the future of county operations and the relationship between national and devolved governments.