Meru Senator Kathuri Murungi during a football tournament in Meru county /ALICE WAITHERA

Meru Senator Kathuri Murungi has praised President William Ruto for assenting to the County Public Finance Laws Amendment Act, 2023, which has accorded county assemblies financial freedom.

Murungi said he authored the Bill following sustained advocacy by the County Assemblies Forum that has for years called for legal recognition of county assemblies and their financial autonomy.

Signing the Bill into law will see county assemblies facilitated to oversight the executive while efficiently delivering on their legislative role, he said.

“The law empowers all the 47 county assemblies by providing them with direct access to funds, enabling them to carry out their oversight roles without being beholden to governors,” Murungi said.

“I am extremely grateful to the President for assenting to the Bill I presented before the Senate. I’m also grateful to the National Assembly for its support in ensuring this Bill becomes law.”

Previously, the senator said MCAs were compelled to seek approval of governors to access operational funds, a situation that undermined their autonomy.

Many governors misused assemblies’ financial dependence, using it to arm-twist MCAs into passing certain laws, he said.

Murungi said some times MCAs went for long periods of time without funds, hampering their operations.

The new law creates a County Assembly Fund for each of the assemblies whose administrator is the clerk. The fund will receive funds directly from Treasury.

They will, however, still need the approval of the Controller of Budget to make withdrawals from the kitty, ensuring they are held accountable.

“We saw situations where MCAs were forced to beseech governors for approval of compulsory funds. That will now be a thing of the past,” he said.

Murungi said the law will reduce conflicts between county executives and legislatures, while ensuring each entity plays its roles independently.

“Where there’s bad blood between the executive and the legislature, development is hampered. This law now enables assemblies to plan quarterly projects and execute their oversight role effectively,” he said.

The senator, however, challenged county assemblies to ensure they use the funds prudently to support devolution and ensure Kenyans receive services they require from devolved units.

President Ruto signed the Bill into law on August 13 together with the County Allocation of Revenue Bill, 2025 that significantly increases the equitable share of national revenue to counties from Sh387.4 billion to Sh415 billion for the 2025-26 financial year.