Nyeri: Nyeri County hopes to be considered for a Sh352 million World Bank (WB) funding under the Kenya Devolution Support Program (KDSP) Level 2. This comes after the county successfully completed the KDSP II program under Level I, which had been allocated Sh72.9 million by the global financer.
According to Kenya News Agency, under KDSP I, Nyeri managed to construct a 175-bed Level 4 hospital in Naromoru, Kieni sub-county, a significant development for the area. Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga expressed confidence that the county will qualify for the second tier of funding, expected to be announced in April, following the successful implementation of the first phase of the program. He noted that Nyeri County met all the Level 1 Minimum Conditions under the Second Kenya Devolution Support Program (KDSP II), as verified by the Independent Verification Assessor from the State Department for Devolution.
The Level 2 assessment is anticipated to occur in April 2026, with hopes to secure a Sh352.5 million reward. KDSP is a four-year program (2024-2027) funded by the WB to support capacity building and technical assistance in five key result areas identified in the national capacity building framework (NCBF). This framework, originally developed in 2013, was revised in 2015 to address emerging capacity building needs such as technical assistance and knowledge exchange programs.
Governor Kahiga highlighted the importance of synergy among all stakeholders in executing public programs, noting that the success of KDSP II was achieved through collaboration. He stressed the necessity of seamless execution of similar programs in the future, emphasizing that optimal input from all implementing parties is crucial for successful outcomes.
The county’s commitment to the program’s objectives was evident as Governor Kahiga officially closed the KDSP II Progress Review Workshop, underscoring the need for collective collaboration to enhance county performance in financing, management, coordination, and resource accountability.
At the county level, KDSP is implemented through the County Program Steering Committee, chaired by the Governor. This committee includes various key officials, such as the CEC in charge of Devolution matters, CEC Finance, Chair County Public Service Board, Speaker of County Assembly, and the County Secretary. While all 47 counties have signed participation agreements for the program, qualification for funding depends on effective resource utilization under a two-tier funding model. Level 1 requires counties to demonstrate accountability through published budgets and clean audits, while Level 2 investment grants are awarded based on performance or Disbursement Link Indicators (DLIs).
