Jitters over pending bills as governors begin term

Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang'o. [David Njaaga, Standard]

The biggest fear of a contractor owed by a county government is perhaps not being paid at the end of a financial year. This fear intensifies when a new governor comes into office.

It is even worse for them when the transition happens at a time the contractor's invoice to the county government is still listed under ineligible bills. According to a March 2022 Controller of Budget report, the 47 county governments had pending bills amounting to Sh107 billion, whose eligibility could not be ascertained by then.