Nairobi — Governors have threatened to shut down counties in the next two weeks over lack of funds from the national government to run operations.

Council of Governors Chairperson Anne Waiguru, who is the Governor of Kirinyaga County said the delay has put devolution under serious threat because most counties have not even paid salaries.

"We, therefore, call upon the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury to immediately release the Sh94.35 billion owed to County Governments without any further delay. By dint of this, the Council of Governors hereby issues a 14-day notice to shut down Counties if February, March, and April arrears are not released within two weeks," she told a news conference Monday.

Most counties have announced stalled operations, with workers threatening to go on strike.

"The four-month delay is unprecedented in the history of devolution and negates the spirit of the meeting held in Naivasha between His Excellency The President and the Governors," Waiguru said.

Through the Council of Governors, the county chiefs lamented the delayed disbursement of funds by the National Treasury, has crippled operations and delivery of critical services to the residents.

CoG Vice-Chairman Ahmed Abdullahi said some counties like Nairobi had not received their share of revenue for up to six months.

"We are informing Kenyans that we have absolutely no option but to ask workers to go home until such a time when counties are funded," Abdullahi noted.

The sentiments come at a time when Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi assured County Governors of the government's commitment to devolution amid the delay in the disbursement of equitable shared revenue to the devolved units.

"We are here to confirm we truly believe in devolution. Devolution has made a big difference in our country and as we deal with teething problems that come when these new processes come into place," Mudavadi said.