Staff and members of assemblies in at least 25 counties are yet to benefit from a training benefited from by their counterparts in 22 counties courtesy of sponsorship by the United States Agency for International Development.

Chairman of the County Assembly Forum, Mr. Johnson Osoi, has said that there were plans to have all the counties trained as other development partners including the European Union were to get on board so as to cover the remaining counties. So as to breach that gap, Mr. Osoi has approached the Kenya School of Government to develop tailor-made programmes for the County Assembly Members and staff.

In any case, it is the School that trained the earlier batch of 22 counties. The Chairman was speaking during a meeting with the School led by the Director General, Dr. Ludeki Chweya. The School presented possible programs that County Assemblies can take advantage. Mr. Osoi said County Assemblies, the legislative arm of the county also charged with making laws that appertain to the county affairs, need the requisite skills to deliver effective services. The Assemblies also check on the workings of the County Executive to ensure it follows the law and the achievement of county goals.

Dr. Chweya said the School, through training, will ensure that there is no existence of frosty relationships between the Assembly and the Executive which may hamper development in counties. “KSG has embarked on a journey through training to diffuse any such tension and create a harmonious working relationship between the two arms of government,” said Dr. Chweya. Director Academic Affairs, Dr. Leah Munyao, said the School strives to realize its mandate through training programs that emphasize dexterity, innovation, integrity and results based performance with a wide reach both regionally and internationally. “The School also undertakes problem- solving research in public sector management and leadership under the consultancy and advisory services on practical public sector issues,” said Dr. Munyao.

The Finance and Administration Director, Dr. Nura Mohamed, is on record saying the responsibility of the School is drawn from the constituting Act as well as the Kenya Vision 2030 development blueprint. “Under the KSG Act, the Government requires the School to build the skills, competencies, and expertise of all public servants at both National and County levels. In the Kenya Vision 2030 plan, on the other hand, the Government seeks to transform Kenya into a newly industrializing, middle- income country providing a high quality of life to all its citizens in a clean and secure environment,” said Dr. Mohamed.