Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi who is also the Chairperson of National Development Implementation and Communication Cabinet Committee Wednesday accused county bosses of playing politics as far as paying their pending bills is concerned/Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government
NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 18 – The Government has vowed to use lawful means to compel County Governors to pay their pending bills, days after the High Court ordered the National Treasury to disburse all withheld funds.
The High Court on Friday ordered the National Treasury to remit all withheld funds allocated to county governments with Justice Weldon Korir slating a status conference for January 28 when the court is set to review compliance.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi who is also the Chairperson of National Development Implementation and Communication Cabinet Committee Wednesday accused county bosses of playing politics as far as paying their pending bills is concerned.
“Some small excuses are being given by some governors for not paying their bills. We are saying they must pay their bills. We have made a strong recommendation to the full cabinet that we will use all possible lawful means to ensure governors pay their bills,” Matiangi vowed.
“It is not fair to treat our people in the manner they are being treated in the counties.”
He defended the national government from claims by governors that it has refused to provide financial resources to counties saying, the Government has disbursed money, adding that some governors do not want to clear some of their bills because they were incurred by their predecessors.
READ: Treasury ordered to remit withheld funds for 35 counties in CoG suit
“The way sometimes our colleagues and leaders in the counties talk about this pending issue casually is as though they create an impression that the National Government and the National Treasury is neither willing nor able to address that issue. The controller budget is here, and she has confirmed that some money has been disbursed to counties and that is why some 12 counties have already cleared their pending bills,” Matiangi said.
35 counties yet to comply with the pending bills directive are yet to receive their equitable share, which The National Treasury is withholding.Matiangi said the national government had cleared Sh9bn in pending bills.
National Treasury said Elgeyo Marakwet, Homa Bay, Kajiado, Kericho, Kilifi, Kwale, Laikipia, Makueni, Nyamira Nyandarua, Nyeri Uasin Gishu and Baringo counties had settled all eligible pending bills as at June 2018 as verified and confirmed by the Office of the Attorney General.
Acting Treasury CS Ukur Yatani reiterated that county governments will be required to provide monthly status report that will include an itemized list of all the bills paid.
He said going forward, subsequent disbursements to county governments shall be based on the progress made in the settlement on the pending bills.
“In this regard, therefore all counties with outstanding eligible bills due to suppliers and contractors as at June 2018 and as verified and confirmed by the Auditor General are required to clear the said outstanding bills forthwith,” Yatani stated.
In a summary of pending bills audit by the Office of the Auditor General as at November 28, counties such as Machakos, Nairobi, Mombasa, Narok, Vihiga, Tana River, Kirinyaga, Garissa, Turkana, Meru, West Pokot, Homa Bay, Kwale, Kisumu, Kiambu, and Nakuru owed over Sh1 billion in pending bills.
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