Governor Dr. Jonathan Bii on Tuesday officially opened the Kenya Devolution Support Programme II (KDSP II) Capacity Building Workshop, calling on county officers to prioritise accountability, teamwork, and timely performance to unlock development funds and improve service delivery to residents.

Describing KDSP II as more than a funding mechanism, Governor Bii said the performance-based programme serves as a critical test of devolution’s ability to deliver tangible benefits to wananchi. He emphasised that grants under the initiative are earned through sound governance, prudent financial management, transparency, and effective project implementation.

The Governor revealed that Uasin Gishu County received approximately KSh186 million out of an expected KSh352 million in the previous cycle, attributing the shortfall to documentation delays, administrative bottlenecks, and procedural gaps.

“Every shilling lost translates to missed opportunities for development,” he said, urging departments to strengthen coordination, meet reporting deadlines, and close existing gaps.

Governor Bii identified the proposed Milk Processing Plant as a flagship project under KDSP II. He said the facility will provide dairy farmers with a reliable market, generate employment for youth, empower cooperatives, raise household incomes, and establish Uasin Gishu as a leading dairy processing hub. He directed officers to prioritise the project and mobilise additional resources for its timely completion.

He also instructed the Finance Department to implement recommendations from the Independent Verification Agent, including raising own-source revenue by at least five percent above inflation and clearing pending bills to improve the county’s financial standing.

County Executive Committee Member for Administration, Devolution and Public Service Management, Mrs. Loice Murrey, welcomed participants and encouraged officers to fully internalise the programme’s objectives and collaborate on practical solutions for better performance and service delivery.

County Secretary Philip Meli challenged officers to critically assess past gains and shortcomings, stressing that clean audits, proper financial management, enhanced revenue collection, and accurate documentation are essential for achieving the programme’s Development Linked Indicators (DLIs). He called on all departments to take ownership of KDSP II.

The workshop brought together County Executive Committee Members, Chief Officers, County Attorney Sylvester Metto, County Solicitor Boaz Bulbul, CEO/Secretary to the County Public Service Board Silas Rono, and various directors.

The capacity building session aims to equip county teams with the skills and strategies needed to maximise performance under KDSP II and accelerate development across Uasin Gishu.