Kitui Governor Dr. Julius Malombe on Thursday hosted a delegation from the Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee (IGRTC), led by Chairperson Kithinji Kiragu, during a courtesy call at the governor’s office. The visit formed part of a national data collection mission to inform the preparation of the 2024/2025 Annual Summit Report.

The IGRTC delegation’s engagement is in line with its mandate under the Intergovernmental Relations Act, 2012, which provides for structured consultation between the national and county governments. The Annual Summit Report, compiled by IGRTC, will be submitted to the National Assembly, Senate, and County Assemblies as part of efforts to improve intergovernmental coordination and accountability.

Governor Malombe welcomed the delegation and lauded IGRTC’s ongoing efforts to strengthen intergovernmental collaboration. He reaffirmed Kitui County’s commitment to supporting the IGRTC process and highlighted the critical role of devolution in Kenya’s governance framework.

“Devolution is a cornerstone of inclusive governance. However, for it to function optimally, institutions like IGRTC need clear, practical guidelines and adequate support,” said Governor Malombe.

Addressing the issue of housing and function transfer, Governor Malombe emphasized that counties possess the capacity to implement key development programmes, including housing. However, he expressed concern that Article 187 of the Constitution, which governs the transfer of functions between the two levels of government, had not been adequately factored into recent implementations.

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In response, Chairperson Kiragu underscored the importance of direct stakeholder engagement in enriching the quality and relevance of the Annual Summit Report. He emphasized that the transfer of functions must be accompanied by corresponding resources, a principle central to the success of devolution.

“Effective devolution hinges not only on the delegation of responsibilities but also on the availability of resources to fulfill those mandates,” Kiragu noted.

The consultative visit reflects IGRTC’s commitment to ensuring that county-level experiences and perspectives shape national policy conversations, particularly around intergovernmental coordination and service delivery.

Also present during the Courtesy call was Deputy Governor H.E Augustine Kanani, IGRTC Director Mrs. Agnes Muthoni, George Tarus State House Lead Counsel and other senior officials involved in the mission, County Secretary Mrs Agnes Mulewa, CECMs, Chief Officers among other county government officials.

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