CoG Chair FCPA Ahmed Abdulahi. Photo Courtesy. 
By Andrew Mbuva
Governors across the country are now demanding that the Kenya Roads Board (KRB) comply with a High Court ruling directing the disbursement of the Roads Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF) to counties without further delay.
Council of Governors (CoG) Chairperson FCPA Ahmed Abdulahi revealed he has officially written to the KRB, urging them to release the funds promptly.
He emphasized that the court judgment had settled the matter of road classification, clearly outlining the responsibilities of both national and county governments.
“There is no justification for the continued withholding of these funds. The court process conclusively affirmed the classification of roads, and it is now evident that each level of government has clear jurisdiction,” said Governor Abdulahi.
The Mandera Governor also criticized the National Assembly, accusing it of breaching the Constitution by denying counties access to the funds.
He urged lawmakers to confine themselves to their constitutional mandate instead of engaging in resource allocation battles that undermine devolution.
Abdulahi stressed that the right of counties to maintain roads within their jurisdiction should not be politicized or used to delay the equitable distribution of national resources.
In a related statement, CoG Finance Committee Chair and Kakamega Governor Fernandez Barasa called on the National Government to urgently release KES 64 billion owed to counties before the end of the current financial year.
Governor Barasa also appealed for the extension of the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) closure deadline once the funds are released, to enable counties to absorb the funds effectively and avoid a surge in pending bills.
The governors reiterated their collective stance that the fight for proper resource allocation and respect for devolution principles remains a top priority.
