Governors Failed to Spend Sh62.5 Billion Set Aside for Development, Says Report

The most recent report from the Controller of Budget has revealed the failure of county governments to utilize billions of shillings that were allocated for development programs last year.

Throughout the 2022-23 financial year, Kenyan county governors allocated a total of Sh160.5 billion, but reports show that they only managed to utilize Sh97.9 billion, leaving a jaw-dropping amount of Sh62.5 billion untouched in their Central Bank accounts. Unfortunately, this only serves to reinforce the old adage of "all talk and no action," which has become evident as the county bosses have continued to neglect projects like hospitals and roads. Despite their big dreams for their counties, governors have blamed delays in funds disbursement from the national government as the reason for their low absorption rates.

It has been reported that Kisii, Kiambu, Nakuru, Busia, and Machakos counties showed development budget absorption rates below 50%. Kisii County had initially budgeted Sh3.3 billion for their development schemes, but utilised only Sh457.8 million, totalling a 13.9% absorption rate. Meanwhile, Kisii's absorption rate in recurrent expenditures was one of the highest at 96.3%. Similarly, Kiambu County led by Kimani Wamatangi demonstrated meagre absorption rates, amounting to only 26.4% of the actual Sh4 billion cited budget.

During the 2022-23 financial year, Machakos County, led by Wavinya Ndeti, used 42.5% of its development budget of Sh3.7 billion, while Busia County used Sh1.2 billion, or 41.4% of their allocated budget. However, when analyzing development expenditure relative to the approved annual development budget, only six counties reached an 80% absorption rate with their funds. This included West Pokot, Mandera, Samburu, Kericho, Nandi, and Homa Bay counties. West Pokot County, governed by Simon Kachapin, stood out as the highest achiever, using Sh2.1 billion out of their allocated Sh2.4 billion for a remarkable absorption rate of 89%, leading the pack in effective spending toward development.

Mandera County utilized Sh3.6 billion from its development budget of Sh4.2 billion, which is 85.3 per cent of the total budget. Samburu County, another top performer in utilizing the development budget above the 80 per cent mark, spent Sh1.8 billion, representing a rate of 84.1 per cent. Kericho County spent Sh2.1 billion, which was 83.4 per cent of the Sh4.5 billion allocated for development programs.