The second Kenya Devolution Support Program (KDSP II), a World Bank-funded initiative, on Thursday undertook an independent verification exercise in Uasin Gishu County to assess the utilization and impact of funds disbursed to the county government.

The programme seeks to strengthen counties’ capacity in resource management, accountability, and service delivery.

The verification exercise, conducted by an independent consultancy, evaluated progress and compliance with performance-based funding requirements.

Led by Independent Verification Agent Sirengo Maurice, the team is building on gains made during the first phase of the programme implemented between 2016 and 2021.

KDSP II provides performance-based grants to counties, with an emphasis on sustainable financing, intergovernmental coordination, and enhanced public accountability.

Key areas of focus during the exercise included ensuring that all county employees are captured within the Human Resource system, eliminating manual payroll processes, and confirming that all relevant records are properly digitized and maintained.

The Programme Development Objective (PDO) is to enhance county performance in the financing, management, coordination, and accountability of resources, ultimately improving service delivery outcomes.

The verification exercise is currently underway across all 47 counties under the State Department for Devolution.

It covers several areas, including project stocktaking, community-led project management committees, and climate change screening and preparedness.

The Uasin Gishu County team was led by Performance Director Josphat Rotich and Human Resource and Payroll Director Nathan Koech, alongside other county officials.