CoG faults Treasury for Sh92.5b delay

Council of Governors (CoG) chairperson Anne Waiguru. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Governors have accused the National Treasury of crippling operations of county governments by failing to release Sh92.5 billion equitable share funds to developed units.

Council of Governors (CoG) chairperson Anne Waiguru said the money was the county governments' share for December last year, as well as January and February this year.

Waiguru, who is also Kirinyaga governor, said: "Counties are owed Sh29.6 billion for December 2022, Sh31.45 billion for January and Sh31.45 billion for February 2023. Failure to disburse the money has affected service delivery in counties."

She urged Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung'u to urgently disburse the outstanding balance of equitable share to county governments.

This, she said, would ensure uninterrupted service delivery and implementation of programmes that have been planned and budgeted for in this financial year.

"We note with concern that the disbursement of funds to counties has unjustifiably been delayed in contravention to provisions of article 219 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 as read together with section 17(6) of the Public Finance Management act 2012 that provides for timely disbursement of an equitable share of revenue to counties," said Waiguru.

The CoG boss said the unwarranted delay has jeopardised operations of the counties. Many of them are unable to pay salaries and suppliers, she said.

"Essential services to the citizens have been affected by the delayed disbursement of funds to counties," said Waiguru.