Governor Barasa lauds court order to Ksh 10.5B Road Maintenance Levy

Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa has lauded the High Court’s ruling directing the National Assembly to release the frozen Ksh 10.5 billion Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF) to county governments, calling it a landmark decision that strengthens devolution.

Speaking at his Matungu residence, Barasa said the judgment marks a turning point in the fight for fair resource allocation and will enable counties to carry out long-overdue road maintenance projects.

The ruling, issued on Thursday by High Court Judge Justice Lawrence Mugambi, declared the exclusion of counties from the RMLF unconstitutional and ordered the National Assembly to release the funds to the devolved units by June 30th, 2025.

Governor Barasa also extended his appreciation to ODM leader Raila Odinga for his role in advocating for the inclusion of counties in the national resource framework.

The decision ends a long-running legal battle between the National Assembly and county governments, a dispute that had caused friction among top political leaders and hampered service delivery at the county level.