Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok had a hard time while appearing before the Senate Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds (CPISFC), where he was put to task over the management of key functions in the county, including the granting of full financial independence to Bomet Municipality.

The standoff between the senators and the governor originated from the Auditor General's report for the financial year ending June 2024, which established that despite Bomet Town being granted municipality, it lacked operational, financial, and managerial independence. 

According to the lawmakers, despite Bomet town being granted a charter in May 2018, the Governor has yet to enable it to function freely. 

This was after it was established that the Governor’s administration has retained control over the municipality’s budget and key functions mandated under the Municipal Charter and the Urban Areas and Cities Act, 2011.

Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok at a conference on September 1, 2023

Photo

Hillary Barchok

Committee Chair Senator Godfrey Osotsi did not mince words, ''Governor, you need to be clear with us on where the problem lies. The law granting municipalities independence seems inconvenient for you. It is taking away some of your authority, and you are resisting silently.''

Senator Raphael Chimera expressed frustration, questioning why a municipal bank account was opened in January if no revenue was being deposited, pointing to the disconnect between policy pronouncements and implementation.

''If indeed this gazette notice is as legal as it should be, these resources would have been given to the municipality,'' he remarked. ''But instead, this is a municipality on paper only. We will not accept responses claiming a lack of resources or capacity when the board itself appears nonfunctional.''

Governor Barchok acknowledged the challenges, attributing them to Bomet’s status as a rural county with low revenue collection. 

"We have faced challenges in fully implementing municipal independence as required by law," he admitted, adding, "However, I assure you that by the next time we appear before this committee, we will report tangible progress."

Accordingly, the committee issued a stern warning to the Governor, warning him that a failure to grant the autonomy to Bomet Municipality by June 30 would prompt the Senate to downgrade it. 

Despite his assurances, Senator Osotsi remained firm: ''We are giving you until June 30. If you fail to implement this, then perhaps you should consider downgrading the municipality.''  

Bomet Governor Hilary Barchok (centre) follows appears before the County Public Accounts Committee on February 14, 2023.

Parliament of Kenya