How counties are stifling the growth and development of towns

 Auditor General Nancy Gathungu./FILE

County governments are on the spot following revelations that many are deliberately stifling the growth and development of towns and urban centres under their jurisdiction.

New audit reports by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu show devolved units starving municipalities of funds, autonomy and institutional support, despite legal provisions mandating their empowerment.

The reports reveal that while most counties have established municipal boards to oversee urban development, these are often micromanaged by county executives and denied the resources required to function effectively.

As a result, critical projects such as water and sanitation systems, road infrastructure, housing and waste management remain stalled, undermining orderly urban growth.

The audit reports for municipalities for the period ended June 30, 2025, which were recently tabled in the Senate, show a pattern of neglect, bureaucratic interference and disregard for the Urban Areas and Cities Act, 2011.

In Thika, Kiambu county, the government allocated Sh265.42 million for the operations of Thika municipality during the financial year under review.

However, not a single shilling was disbursed to support its activities.

According to the report, the municipality did not undertake any projects, activities or operational transactions throughout the year.

“In the circumstances, inactivity of the municipality throughout the year undermines its legally mandated role in urban and municipal service delivery as envisioned in the Urban Areas and Cities Act, 2011,” the report states.

This comes as the Senate considers a request by the Kiambu government to elevate Thika municipality to city status.

Ironically, the Auditor General notes that the municipality lacks a charter and failed to conduct public forums as required by law to collect residents’ views on service delivery, development plans and budget estimates.

In Kitale, Trans Nzoia county, the audit report highlights limited operational autonomy for the municipality, contrary to the law.

“The municipality remained partly controlled by the county government of Trans Nzoia as major operational and financial decisions continue to require county executive approval,” the report notes.

This bureaucratic control, Gathungu warned, limits the municipality’s ability to independently exercise its statutory mandate, raising concerns about inefficiency and delayed service delivery.

The report also flags the stalled construction of a Sh874.28 million multi-storey business complex in Kitale town, a project meant to spur economic growth.

A similar situation prevails in Meru county, where the municipality lacks independence.

Meru municipality’s budget is prepared and controlled by the county executive, while the government continues to perform functions that were legally transferred to the municipality.

In West Pokot, Kapenguria municipality lacks autonomy in key areas, including budgetary independence and control over its own-source revenue.

In the Northeastern region, the Garissa county government has yet to transfer devolved functions to Garissa municipality, effectively crippling its operations.

In Machakos, the county government has failed to fully operationalise Mavoko municipality.

The audit report cites the absence of a strategic plan and budget, making it impossible for the municipality to implement development programmes.

Busia municipality was established without approved by-laws and continues to operate without operational autonomy. In Oyugis, Homa Bay county, the municipality lacks an annual development plan and procurement plans to guide its operations.

In Karuri municipality, Kiambu county, various development projects have stalled due to lack of funding. Although the county budgeted Sh3.86 million for municipality operations, no funds were disbursed.

The Auditor General warned that unless counties fully operationalise municipalities, grant them financial autonomy and respect the law, towns will continue to stagnate—undermining the promise of devolution and denying residents quality urban services.

INSTANT ANALYSIS

The findings reveal a systemic failure where county governments, instead of acting as enablers, have become the primary impediment to urban governance. By withholding funds, refusing to grant autonomy and maintaining bureaucratic control, they render municipalities administratively and financially paralysed. This contravenes the core promise of devolution—bringing services and development closer to the people. The stagnation of critical urban projects and services is a direct consequence of this calculated neglect, suggesting that political control is being prioritised over effective, localised service delivery.