Bill seeking to tame expenditure in counties tabled

Governors will be required to spend 60 per cent of their allocation on development and 40 per cent on recurrent expenditure annually if a proposed law before the Senate is passed.

The proposed changes to the Public Finance Management (Amendment) Bill by Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki, seeks to compel county chiefs to spend more in developing their counties rather than on recurrent expenditure.

Debate on the Bill kicked off with Senators expressing concerns at the slow pace in which projects are initiated in the counties as a huge fraction of the funds goes to payment of salaries and equipment.

The legislators now want governors to spend money allocated to them to develop their areas instead of living in opulence and privilege at the expense of the electorate.

"Counties must ensure 60 per cent of their resources go to development. If there is anything we can do to save this country from self-inflicted strife, disillusionment and despair, this Bill must be passed and implemented," said Prof Kindiki.

He told the House that the objective of the Bill is to save the country from what he described as predatory behaviour and attitudes, where people see the public sector as a means of making money.

He insisted that being in a top position in the public sector requires servant leadership and therefore counties should be seen to develop regions that were otherwise perceived as marginalised rather than as a source of wealth for individuals.

Senator Boni Khalwale (Kakamega) while seconding the Bill said the proposed legislation is opportune because it will instil discipline in the way counties' finances are managed.

"I want to assure all the detractors of this Bill that county governments will adjust very quickly. The money seen to be mandatory for recurrent expenditures will be available for development," he said.