Counties splash billions on salaries, perks amid rising wage bill

47 counties spent a total of Sh139 billion on personnel emoluments. [iStockphoto]

County governments spent a majority of their budgets on salaries for the first nine months of the 2021/2022 financial year, making a mockery of efforts to reduce the public wage bill.

Data from the latest report from the office of the Controller of Budget indicates that the 47 counties received Sh289.6 billion in the first nine months of the 2021/2022 financial year, against budget estimates of Sh528.5 billion.