Tuesday, 1 April, 2025
CPISFC to Bomet Governor: CEDE control to municipality or push for its downgrade𝐁𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝟐𝟖𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
The Senate Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds (CPISFC) issued a stern ultimatum to Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok, demanding full autonomy for Bomet Municipality by June 30 or face the possibility of its downgrade. During the session, the committee scrutinized persistent governance failures highlighted in the Auditor-General’s report for the financial year ending June 30, 2024. At the heart of the issue is the municipality’s lack of operational, financial, and managerial independence, despite being granted a charter in May 2018.
Committee Chair Senator Godfrey Osotsi did not mince words: “Governor, you need to be clear with us on where the problem lies. The law granting municipalities independence seems inconvenient for you. It is taking away some of your authority, and you are resisting silently.” The governor’s administration has retained control over the municipality’s budget and key functions mandated under the Municipal Charter and the Urban Areas and Cities Act, 2011.
Senator Raphael Chimera expressed frustration, stating, “Governor, you cannot claim to have granted independence to the municipality while denying it the power to collect revenue and manage its finances.” He questioned why a municipal bank account was opened in January if no revenue was being deposited, pointing to the disconnect between policy pronouncements and implementation.
Senator Sigei further criticized the situation, citing a gazette notice from January 23, 2024, which purportedly transferred critical functions like revenue collection and waste management to the municipality. “If indeed this gazette notice is as legal as it should be, these resources would have been given to the municipality,” he remarked. “But instead, this is a municipality on paper only. We will not accept responses claiming a lack of resources or capacity when the board itself appears nonfunctional.”
Senator Peris Tobiko pressed the governor on his claims that the municipality was “not ready” to operate independently. “All conditions, parameters, and requirements were considered before Bomet qualified to become a municipality,” she stated. “Why is the governor now alleging that Bomet is ‘not ready’ when assessments confirmed it met all the necessary criteria? This sudden change in stance raises serious questions.”
Governor Barchok acknowledged the challenges, attributing them to Bomet’s status as a rural county with low revenue collection. “We have struggled to fully implement municipal independence as prescribed by law,” he admitted. “However, I commit that by the next time we appear before this committee, we will report tangible progress.”
Despite his assurances, Senator Osotsi remained firm: “We are giving you until June 30. If you fail to implement this, then perhaps you should consider downgrading the municipality.” With proper auditing and governance at stake, the pressure is now on Governor Barchok to act.