Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi has criticized the national government over what he terms as unfair treatment of counties.
Speaking on the state of devolution, Mwangangi lamented that county funding has significantly dwindled since President William Ruto took office less than three years ago.
According to him, the government has consistently slashed funds meant for devolved units, making service delivery increasingly difficult.
“When devolution began, counties were well-funded, but under the current administration, allocations have been drastically cut. The health sector alone has lost Ksh 300 million from its initial Ksh 1 billion budget,” Mwangangi stated.
He further expressed sympathy for governors, arguing that they are being set up for failure.
“If there has ever been a tough time to be a governor, it is now. I even pity my boss because running a county has become extremely difficult,” He added,.
Mwangangi also raised concerns over the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), questioning why hospitals remain unpaid despite accumulating huge debts.
He noted that the financial strain has hit mission hospitals the hardest, with some struggling to stay afloat due to the millions owed to them by SHIF.
Mwangangi spoke at Komarock in Matungulu sub-county of Machakos county during the Catholic pilgrimage.
