Makueni stands out as Senate reviews urban devolution across counties

The Senate has commended Makueni County for leading in urban devolution and revenue collection, despite warnings that effective management of public funds is crucial for continued access to national disbursements. Makueni County informed the Senate Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations about its progress in implementing the Urban Areas and Cities Act.

This commendation comes amid growing Senate scrutiny of county finances, with lawmakers threatening to block disbursement schedules for counties that fail to cooperate in audits. Makueni County's chairperson, Mohamed Abbas, noted that while many counties have ignored the Urban Areas and Cities Act, Makueni has been proactive in operationalizing the law since its inception.

The county's Wote, Emali-Sultan Hamud, and Mbooni-Kee municipalities have established structures to support urban administration, with Emali-Sultan Hamud emerging as the top revenue collector in the 2025/2026 financial year after receiving delegated local revenue streams. Wote and Emali-Sultan Hamud have been authorized to collect and retain designated revenue at source for a three-year pilot period, starting from July 1, 2026.

However, Chief Executive Catherine Mumma cautioned that counties already possess sufficient powers to manage revenue delegation, arguing that a new national law is not necessary. Senate Vice-Chairperson Johnes Mwaruma emphasized the constitutional importance of accountability in appropriations, warning that counties defying summonses over audit queries could face consequences, including the blocking of disbursement schedules.

The Senate is currently reviewing hundreds of audit reports, insisting that counties must demonstrate accountability in managing public funds before receiving further allocations.