The Senate Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations has pledged to pursue legislative reforms aimed at granting County Public Service Boards (CPSBs) greater financial and legal independence.
The move follows concerns that the boards remain vulnerable to political interference and executive control despite existing legal provisions guaranteeing their autonomy.
During a meeting at Parliament Buildings with members of the National CPSB Forum led by Chairperson Dr. Lilian Ng’etich, senators said there was an urgent need to ring-fence the budgets of county public service boards to enable them to function independently.
Committee Chairperson Senator Mohamed Abbas said the current funding structure undermines the boards’ ability to effectively manage county public service operations.
“We need to find out how the boards can be given their own budget so that they manage themselves and operate as independent bodies,” Abbas said.
Concerns Over Executive Interference
The CPSB Forum told senators that although the law recognizes the boards as independent institutions, their budgets are still controlled through county executives, making them vulnerable during supplementary budget cuts.
According to the forum, the situation has affected critical functions such as staff training, performance management, and human resource planning across counties.
Senators also raised concerns about the emergence of what they described as “parallel governments” in counties, where advisors and casual workers are allegedly recruited outside established procedures.
Lawmakers warned that the trend has contributed to rising wage bills and weakened accountability in county governments.
Senate Raises Alarm Over Ethnic Bias in Hiring
The committee further expressed concern over alleged ethnic imbalance in county recruitment processes.
Marsabit Senator Mohamed Chute claimed that some counties had employed up to 98 percent of staff from a single community, contrary to constitutional requirements on inclusivity and diversity.
“In some counties, up to 98 percent of employees are from the same community. We must ensure recruitment and promotions comply with constitutional obligations regarding dominant and non-dominant communities,” Chute said.
The senators urged County Public Service Boards to strictly enforce the constitutional requirement that at least 30 percent of employees come from non-dominant communities.
Calls for Stronger Oversight
Vice Chairperson Senator Catherine Mumma challenged the boards to fully exercise the authority already granted to them under the law.
“It is the County Public Service Boards who should be able to help tame the parallel governments that we have. You cannot claim independence while failing to exercise your mandate,” Mumma said.
The committee also tasked the CPSB Forum with preparing proposals for amendments to the County Government Act to strengthen institutional independence and improve governance standards in devolved units.
Focus on Governance and Accountability
Senators said future engagements with the boards would focus on proactive governance reforms rather than responding only during crises.
The lawmakers maintained that strengthening county public service boards is critical to improving accountability, professionalism, and effective service delivery within county governments.
The National CPSB Forum represents 329 members drawn from all 47 county governments across the country.
