Nairobi, June 3 -- The overlapping mandates between county and national governments are back in the spotlight amid a fresh row over proposed tobacco control laws, adding to a growing list of disputes over the cost of doing business.

Overlapping roles in the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution have, over the years, triggered conflicts between the national government and devolved units in key areas such as public health management, business licensing and revenue collection, public land, and physical planning.

For instance, farmers in counties including Kiambu are locked in court battles over what they term 'double taxation' by the two levels of government on farm produce such as tea, coffee and milk. There have also been frequent clashes ...