Gov't suppliers claim Ksh.300 billion in pending bills

The association worries suppliers stand to lose billions as a new regime beckons with general elections set for later in August.

“Today businesses are owed close to Ksh.300 billion by various government entities including national government ministries, parastatals, commissions and independent offices,” noted APSGS Chairperson Peter Muriuki.

Other pending bills meanwhile accrue to county governments, water companies and public listed companies.

APSGS now says it is embarking on a process to list all pending bills and has asked Kenyans with genuine pending bills to submit details with its office.

“We remain committed to not only ensuring that the government heeds to the call for prompt payment, but also to ensure that government officials who deliberately make payments hard are held liable personally,” added Mr. Muriuki.

In spite of pressure from the National Treasury on Counties, State Departments and other government agencies to clear the supplier bills, pending bills remain a menace.

The Institute of Certified Public Accountants (ICPAK) has for instance warned of the non-payment of the bills as successive governments brush aside bills from previous regimes and now seek prompt payments ahead of Election Day.

According to the latest data from the National Treasury to September 2021, the national government's pending bills amounted to Ksh.423.2 billion.