SECRETARIAT REPORT

This is a status report from the Secretariat for July, August and September 2023.

I) Update on Intergovernmental Relations

A. Circulars and letters released on IGR issues
i) Controller of Budget (COB)
On 27th September, 2023 the CoB released a circular on funding of County Assemblies Activities
from the Executive Budget. CAF to engage CoB on the matter.
ii) Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA)
The Commission has requested the Forum to support in the harmonization of County Assemblies
Committees and standardization of the Staffing Establishment.

We propose to engage a parliamentary expert to support in developing harmonized framework and

standardize County Assemblies committees and staffing establishment
iii) Gazette Notice on Members Remunerations and Benefits
The engagement with the Senate on the matter has not materialized, in fact the meeting that had
been scheduled did not take place as the Senate proceeded for recess and the committee is yet to
schedule the meeting.

The EC should conclusively deliberate on the matter and guide whether we should go to court and
seek orders barring the implementation of the gazette notice or await the engagement with the
Senate and the presidency.

II) Partners Engagements and Resource Mobilization

In June the Secretariat developed a comprehensive database of most of development partners
supporting devolution in Kenya.
Introduction letters and requests for courtesy calls were done for all the identified partners.

So far we have had engagements with the following partners and the following progress have been
made after the engagements;

1. ACT
i. Development of impeachment manual- initiative of Senate
ii. Extend the cooperation framework
iii. Partner with CAF in convening Devolution Study Groups
2. PFMR
Developed a concept note for consideration on the following support areas

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 i) Support to BAC committees
ii) Support PAC committees
iii) Support CASB
iv) Support liaison committees

3. KONRAD
Commitment to support capacity building of MCAs. We developed a concept note to inform the
support areas as follows;
i) Support Liaison Committees
ii) Support capacity building of EC and the Secretariat
iii) Support implementation Committee
iv) Support development of the next CAF Strategic plan
v) Support and develop a report on status of County Legislation
vi) Participate in Exchange programs in Germany

4. UNWOMEN
The team engaged the program manager and agreed to support the following areas
i) Convene two workshops for the women caucus chairs
ii) Develop a mentorship program for young female MCAs
5. CMD
Support the following
i) Formation of SDG caucuses in select counties
ii) Participation in PDF and Gumzo mtaani
iii) Support in SDG localization and reporting at the County level
iv) Sign an MOU
6. Transparency International
i) Supporting 5 County Assemblies (Kakamega, Uasin Gishu, Isiolo, Makueni and
Siaya) in enhancing accountability
ii) Support in finalizing the oversight report
7. National Democratic Institute
i) Support PAC committees
ii) Support women and PWDs
8. UNDP
i) Support in standardization and institutionalization of performance contracting.
ii) Support in development and review of laws and policies that enhance devolution and
address inequalities through evidence based public financial management.
9. KEMSA
i) Sign an agreement framework on working partnership
ii) Support budget, health and PAC committees
iii) Involvement in all CAF meetings
iv) Second a staff to support the health component.

10. World Bank

i) Roll out of the Kenya Devolution Sector working groups
ii) Strengthen the oversight role of County Assemblies
iii) Strengthen the PAC and BAC Committees and Fiscal analysts

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 11. VNG International
i) Rolling out a program on Sustainable Development through Local Governments
focusing on refugees
ii) Work together with CAF in convening the two counties; Garissa and Turkana

Upcoming engagements with development partners

1. Commonwealth Local Governments Conference

Convened by Commonwealth Local Governments Forum (CLGF) Conference scheduled for 14 th -
17th November in Kigali Rwanda.
EC to guide on participation. An invitation has been extended to CAF.
Registration fees is $450 or Ksh. 67,000.
2. Annual General Meeting
Article 8 (4) of the CAF Constitution states that the Annual General Assembly shall be held once in
a year to deliberate on matters affecting the Forum. The last AGM was held virtually in May, 2022.
We propose that an AGM be held in December, 2023 preferably in Nairobi to allow the secretariat
file annual returns. The tentative budget is ksh. 35M
3. Legislative Summit
We propose to commence the planning of the Legislative Summit and host it in March, 2024.
4. Chapter Meetings
We have received requests from different chapters on the need to have their subsequent meeting
in October & November, 2023. The requests are as follows;

i. Deputy Speakers – 15th -18th October, 2023

ii. Majority Leaders – 9th -10th November, 2023
iii. Minority Leaders – 9th -10th November, 2023
iv. Majority Whips – 7th – 8th November, 2023
v. Minority Whips – 7th and 8th November, 2023
vi. Women Caucus- 19th – 20th October, 2023
vii. Youth Caucus - 18th – 19th October, 2023

These chapters are equally requesting for International Retreats within November, 2023.
We request for the Committee’s approval to convene the chapters meetings as requested and also
support in convening the international retreats.

5. Executive Committee Retreat

The Committee should deliberate and agree on the dates and venues for the EC retreat.

6. IBEC Meeting
Re-scheduled for today, 6th October, 2023.

Secretariat Requests to the Committee

We wish to request for approvals for the following;

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1. Recruitment of additional staff
Currently the Secretariat is understaffed caused by exit of various staffs. The request is in line
with the current strategic plan, approved organogram and CAF budget.

The following positions of urgency to ensure smooth running of the secretariat;

i) Communication and Public Relations Officer
ii) Program Officer
iii) Program Assistant
iv) Fiscal Analyst
v) Legal Officer

2. Engagement of Technical Experts

i) To develop the harmonized County Assemblies Committees and standardize staffing
establishment at the County Assemblies
ii) To undertake a satisfaction survey on the CASA games, develop and report with
recommendations on how improve and enhance participation in future events.

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 COUNTY ASSEMBLIES FORUM
QUARTER 2 FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS
ITEM DESCRIPTION AMOUNT TOTAL
1 Compensation of employees
personell emoluments Existing Staff
Net pay 1,865,781.84
HELB 12,648.00
Gratuity 414,906.00
NHIF 37,650.00
NSSF 58,320.00
PAYE 538,212.00
NITA 9,450.00
Housing levy 76,780.32
Sub total 3,013,748.16
Additional staff Salaries and payroll deductions 720,000.00
Total 3,733,748.16
2 Office rent & Service Charge OCT -December 2023 - Service charge 716,835.00
Service charge 210,834.00
Electricity @10000 per month 30,000.00
Total 957,669.00
3 Administration Costs 3months @ 200,000/- 600,000.00 600,000.00
Allowance EC Meeting &
4 Retreat 4 days @15,000/- x 23 pax 1,380,000.00 1,380,000.00
5 Allowance GC Meeting 1 day @ 15,000/- x 151 pax 2,265,000.00 2,265,000.00
Allowance Sub Committee
6 Meetings 2 days @15,000/- x 23 pax 690,000.00 690,000.00
7 Conference Packages GC: 4,500/- x 1meetings x 151 pax 679,500.00

EC:1meetings x 23 pax 103,500.00

Chapters: 4,500/- x 1meetings x 2 daysx
470 pax 4,230,000.00
EC Retreat 4,500/- x 1meetings x 5 daysx
23 pax 517,500.00
Total 5,530,500.00
20% of pending bills of 28,610,682 fy
8 pending Bills 2022/23 & 2021/22 5,722,136.40 5,722,136.40
9 proposed AGM AGM for all MCAs 35,000,000.00 35,000,000.00
GRAND TOTAL 5,892,669.00 55,879,053.56

Bank Balance as at 6th Ocober 2023 38,000,000.00