Looming crisis as Governors threaten to shut down counties over lack of funds

The Council of Governors (CoG) has threatened to shut down counties over delays in the disbursement of equitable share by the National Treasury. 

According to Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa, the National Treasury owes counties Ksh.94.3 billion for the months of March to May 2023; a delay that has not only paralyzed service delivery but occasioned untold suffering to county staff who have gone for months without pay. 

"Arrears for the month of March amount to Ksh.29.6 billion, disbursements for the month of April is Ksh.33.3 billion, and May is Ksh.31.45 billion," he said.

Barasa, who is also the chair of CoG’s Finance Committee, accused the National Treasury of reneging on the commitment it made during a meeting held on May 2 this year to fast-track the disbursement of arrears owed to counties.

"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...and that is why we have called for an extraordinary meeting tomorrow where we will be deliberating on this matter and decide on the way forward," said Barasa.

The governors will be meeting on Friday to discuss their next cause of action even as they threaten to shut down counties if they do not receive funds by the end of the same day.

“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,'' stated the Kakamega Governor.

The county bosses say they have been sidelined in the disbursement of funds, claiming that the national government gets timely disbursements while counties experience perennial delays.