National Treasury releases Ksh.33 billion to counties

The National Treasury has released Ksh.33 billion owed to counties to settle various pending bills.

Out of the said sum, Ksh.10 billion has been allotted to the National Government-Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF).

National Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo said the funds, from the equitable revenue share of April, will enable counties to deliver key services to their constituents.

The development comes almost a month after the Council of Governors (CoG) threatened to shut down counties over delays in the disbursement of equitable share by the National Treasury. 

Speaking in May, Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa, who serves as the chair of CoG’s Finance Committee, said the National Treasury owed counties Ksh.94.3 billion for the months of March to May 2023.

He further noted, then, that the delay to release the funds paralyzed service delivery and occasioned untold suffering to county staff who had gone for months without pay. 

"The money for the month of March was supposed to be released on Monday, May 15, but we have not gotten anything from the National Treasury," said Governor Barasa then.

“What shutting down counties means is we will not be able to deliver services, medical services, workers will not be able to come to work, they will stay at home, our ECD and county polytechnics will be closed...so basically there will be nothing happening in the counties.”