KENYA : The Controller of Budget (CoB) Margaret Nyakang’o has revealed details of financial expenditure of counties during the first quarter of the Current Financial Year, 2024/25. Shockingly, several Counties spending Ksh 0 on Delevelopment while Governors hold multiple accounts.
Nyakang’o stated the 47 devolved units received Ksh. 55 billion during the first quarter of the Financial Year (FY) 2024/25 covering July 2024 to September 2024.
According to the Controller of Budget, Ksh. 7.3 billion was allocated for development and Ksh. 47.8 billion for salaries and other recurrent expenditures.
Governor Johnson Sakaja-led Nairobi County is among the 10 devolved units that spent zero shillings on development during the period.
The report, covering the period from July to October, also lists several Other Counties having spent zero on development, including Kisii County led by Governor Sylvanus Osoro.
Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Kajiado, Lamu, Nyandarua, Tana River, Uasin Gishu and West Pokot counties also spent nil on Development during the said period.
In contrast, Kirinyaga and Busia counties achieved higher absorption rates of their respective approved development budgets, each attaining 12 per cent, followed by Siaya and Garissa counties, each attaining 10 per cent.
Additionally, Nyakang'o exposed county governors for operating multiple bank accounts, allegedly to conceal misuse of Public funds.
Among the shocking revelations is that Bungoma County, led by Governor Kenneth Lusaka, operates 300 accounts with commercial banks.
Many of these accounts are not under the Central Bank of Kenya, raising suspicions of irregular spending.
Of these, 145 were for sub-county hospitals, 14 for level four and five hospitals, and 115 for tertiary institutions.
Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu and Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru led in development spending, allocating Ksh477 million and Ksh 378 million respectively.
During the same period, Busia’s Paul Otuoma absorbed Ksh.328 million to development during the four months.
“During the reporting period, the County government’s development expenditure amounted to Ksh6.71 billion, translating to an absorption rate of three per cent of the annual development budget of Ksh205.33 billion. This represented a decline from the four per cent absorption rate realised in a similar FY 2023/24 period when the County Governments’ cumulative expenditure on development activities was Sh6.92 billion,” reads the report.
According to the CoB report, Nairobi County leads with pending bills amounting to Ksh. 121 billion, years followed by Garissa at Ksh. 6 billion owed to service providers.
Kiambu County owes Ksh. 5.9 billion, while Turkana’s pending bills total Ksh. 4.8 billion while Machakos and Mombasa at Ksh.4.42 billion and Ksh.3.93 billion respectively.
The County Governments reported outstanding pending bills of Kshs.168.62 billion, comprising Kshs.129.15 billion for recurrent activities and Kshs. 34.47 billion for development activities.