Nairobi County to pay off Sh4 billion debt

An aerial view City Hall. [File, Standard]

The  Nairobi county government has approved a budget to settle outstanding payments for goods and services.

The supplementary budget of Sh4 billion was prepared after a task force led by former Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission chair Patrick Lumumba completed scrutiny of Sh60 billion in pending bills.

"At the end of the verification period, the Pending Bills Committee okayed bills worth Sh5.3 billion out of which Sh2.7 billion are for supply of good and services while Sh2.6 billion is for decretal amounts," said Budget and Appropriations Committee chair Robert Mbatia.

Committee vice-chair Patrick Karani said most of the debts dated back to the defunct Nairobi City Council. He added that paying the bills would make the county fiscally stable and encourage more people to do business with City Hall.

Majority Leader Abdi Guyo warned officials against misusing the money, saying that the budget watchdog committee would ensure every shilling got to the intended creditors.

“We ask the Finance executive to ensure that the budget is properly utilised before the end of the financial year to avoid the money reverting to the Treasury," he said.