Governor Otuoma Urges Senate to Extend Equalization Fund to Cover Frontier Counties


Busia Governor Paul Otuoma has urged the Senate to widen the scope of the Equalization Fund to encompass frontier counties that encounter distinct cross-border challenges.

  Otuoma stated that while all counties receive their fair share of revenue and a select few benefit from the Equalization Fund, border counties such as Busia face additional pressures that are not accounted for in the current funding allocations. He emphasized that Busia, situated along the Kenya–Uganda border, frequently shoulders the responsibility of providing essential services, including healthcare, to citizens from neighboring countries. "It is essential to address the challenges confronting frontier counties like Busia. We plan and budget for our citizens, yet we also have our brothers and sisters crossing from Uganda to access the same services," Otuoma remarked. The governor made these comments while hosting the Senate leadership at his office, where he commended the Upper House for its ongoing support of devolution but expressed concern over the persistent financial and administrative challenges facing county governments. He pointed out issues such as delayed fund disbursements, disputes regarding devolved functions, frequent industrial actions, and outdated pre-devolution laws as significant barriers to effective service delivery. "We continue to encounter numerous challenges regarding functions and the resources that follow them. There remains considerable tension between the national and county governments," Otuoma stated. Otuoma mentioned that his administration, in collaboration with the National government, is developing an Economic Processing Zone (EPZ) and the Busia Metropolis, which will not only create jobs but also generate revenue for the county to support various programs. "We have collaborated with the National Government to establish the Busia Metropolis and create an industrial park that will generate employment and enable the county to earn income to fund its initiatives," Otuoma concluded.

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