By Eddah Waithaka
The Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee (IGRTC) has today, released a press statement to outline the responsibilities of county governments in delivering educational support. This comes in response to recent questions raised by the Office of the Controller of Budget on the matter.
IGRTC pointed out that the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution explicitly outlines the responsibilities of both national and county governments. The national government is tasked with specific education-related duties, such as providing bursaries and scholarships, while county governments are responsible for aiding and enhancing local educational initiatives.
As stated in Article 186(3) of the Constitution, any functions not specifically designated to county governments remain under the authority of the national government.
The IGRTC underscored the importance of ongoing collaboration between different levels of government, especially concerning the transfer of functions and resources. According to Article 187, functions can be transferred between the national and county governments through mutual consent, as long as the transfer adheres to the principle of effectiveness and ensures that resources are appropriately allocated.
Additionally, the committee recognized that the absence of specific laws regarding bursaries and scholarships has resulted in these responsibilities remaining with the national government.
Nevertheless, the IGRTC urged counties to pursue Intergovernmental Partnership Agreements (IPAs) with the national government, a strategy that has shown success in various other sectors.
Such agreements will facilitate the appropriate allocation and management of devolved funds to enhance educational support at the county level.
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Ms. Saadia Kontoma, the Vice-Chairperson of IGRTC, reiterated the committee’s dedication to assisting both tiers of government in accomplishing their responsibilities.
She emphasized that education is a basic right for all citizens and highlighted the importance of cooperation between national and county governments in building a strong education system that addresses the needs of all Kenyans.
The IGRTC, established by the Intergovernmental Relations Act of 2012, plays a pivotal role in facilitating collaboration between the national and county governments, as outlined in Articles 6(2) and 189 of the Constitution of Kenya. These constitutional provisions underscore the importance of a consultative and cooperative governance model.
