The Council of Governors chairman Isaac Ruto was on Monday confronted by Nakuru speaker Susan Kihika and her Elgeyo Marakwet counterpart Albert Kochei over calls for a referendum to increase county funding.
The three had attended a thanksgiving ceremony for Nakuru County deputy speaker Samuel Tonui at Njoro in the company of Members of County Assembly (MCAs) from Nakuru, Kericho Governor Paul Chepkwony and Narok deputy governor Evalyn Arusa.
“County assemblies will in no way support the Pesa Mashinani referendum push until governors account for funds already disbursed to them," Kihika said.
"If accountability is not prioritised under the devolved governments, then there will be loopholes for misuse of public funds,” the Nakuru County assembly speaker added.
Kochei said that the County Assemblies Forum (CAF) had made up the decision to listen to the public before declaring their stand in the next 30 days. This is as per resolutions of a meeting held at the Bomas of Kenya on Saturday.
He added that he will continue pushing for the allocation of more funds adding that even more functions including forestry should be devolved.
He lashed out at national assembly majority leader Aden Duale accusing him of issuing personal opinions which are later taken to be positions of the URP party.
The Bomet Governor, Paul Chepkwony, said that no URP meeting has ever been held since elections were concluded, and if Duale is to give a party stand, a National Delegates Conference has to be convened.
He said that MCAs should exercise their oversight role at the assembly level and at the same time said that governors were still open for dialogue on the county funding increase.