What was the hurry? Vacant Controller of Budget office leaves counties in cash crisis

County governments stare at cash crisis after the tenure of the acting Controller of Budget Stephen Masha ended before releasing funds to the devolved units.

According to the Council of Governors, the devolved units are yet to pay their workers as they are unable to access the funds without the Controller of Budget.

“The law only mandates the Controller of Budget to oversee the implementation of the budgets of the national and county governments by authorising withdrawals from public funds,” read a statement from the council.

Council of Governors (COG) chair Wycliffe Oparanya urged the government to fast track the appointment of a new Controller of Budget to forestall the looming crisis.

“Let the government fill in the vacancy in the office of the Controller of Budget to enable authorization of county funds to ensure timely service delivery.”

CoG said counties have been left without any option after the term of the designated Acting Controller of Budget of 90 days expired on November 25 as governors are unable to withdraw any funds from Revenue accounts.

County affairs stalled

“County Governments have been unable to pay out the most critical fiscal obligations including the November month salaries, statutory deductions and procured supplies this includes the pending bills,” read a statement sent to Standard Digital.

The COG added that the 47 counties are yet to receive their November monthly disbursement of Sh31.6 billion which was legally due on November 15.

“The national government should disburse all the pending allocations that are long overdue and should have been disbursed on by November 15 to allow for seamless service delivery and payment of pending bills,” said Oparanya.

It is not clear why the government failed to extend Masha's term until the substantive appointment is made.

President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed Masha in an acting capacity following the exit of Agnes Odhiambo whose term ended in August.