President William Ruto has confirmed that starting this June, county assemblies will manage their own budgets independently. This shift means county executives will no longer have control over assembly resources.
Speaking at the County Assembly Forum, President Ruto explained that this change strengthens the constitutional autonomy of assemblies and ensures that Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) can work effectively.
“The county executive should not control the resources of county assemblies, as was stated. I did sign the law. Now it is the position in law that county assemblies are independent,” Ruto said on Thursday.
“You have my assurance that the national government will continue to provide firm institutional, policy and operational support so that you can discharge your constitutional responsibilities with confidence and effectiveness.”
He also addressed the long-standing disputes over vehicle grant reimbursements that have frustrated local leaders.
“We have agreed with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) that the matter currently before court will be withdrawn. We will go to the alternative dispute resolution,“ Ruto said, ending the delays that had stalled county operations.
The President’s comments follow a major milestone on August 13, 2025, when he signed the County Public Finance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023, at the State Lodge in Homa Bay. This law grants MCAs fiscal and administrative independence from governors, sharpening the line between county executives and assemblies.
“Autonomy will ensure MCAs operate without undue influence from governors or county executives – just like the national Parliament is independent from the national Executive,“ Ruto said.
This new legislation allows assemblies to pull funds directly from the National Treasury and establishes a County Assembly Fund managed by the assembly clerk. Previously, assemblies had to request money through the County Executive Committee Member for Finance, a setup critics argued left them open to political pressure.
Meru Senator Kathuri Murungi, the Bill’s sponsor, noted that the law will stop governors from cutting off assembly resources whenever political friction occurs. By separating these budgets, the government intends to drive accountability, transparency, and better service delivery in every county.
For years, MCAs have complained that governors used budget control to “muzzle” their oversight. If an assembly attempted to investigate a governor, the executive would often retaliate by delaying funds for salaries or committee activities. Before this law, many MCAs felt their relationship with governors was “hostage-like,” as funding for their work became a bargaining chip.
Now, with financial independence, MCAs should become much sharper watchdogs. They can fund their own investigations and site visits without needing permission from the very people they are investigating. However, this shift places a heavy burden on Assembly Clerks, who must now ensure they manage these billions transparently to prevent “miniature corruption” from taking root within the assemblies themselves.