Governors have expressed frustrations from President Uhuru Kenyatta's National Treasury stating that county funds ate yet to be disbursed.
The Governors claim that the delay of funds has put them in a difficult position with residents of their counties who are demanding they fulfil their election promises.
The county bosses acknowledge receipt of funds for recurrent expenditure but have now demanded that Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich should release money to fund development projects.
"The issue of the release of funds has been discussed in various forums and the answer we have always got is that revenue collection has been a bit slow and occasioned by the prolonged electioneering period.
[caption caption="Bomet Governor and CoG Finance, Planning and Economic Affairs Committee Chairperson"]
[/caption]
"It is regrettable that some governors have to go for commercial loans to commit to projects," Bomet Governor Joyce Laboso told journalists.
Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua lamented that he had not received funds to pay county civil servants since January.
"The National Treasury needs to make it a matter of priority to release the cash for every three months or at the end of the month," he stated.
Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya reiterated Dr Mutua's sentiments explaining that funds to his county had been withheld for the past four months.
"I have made several trips to the National Treasury and my visits have yet to bear any results.
"I have not received any money for the past four months and this money is not for us to kneel down for somebody to release it," the Governor complained.
[caption caption="President Kenyatta with Treasury CS Henry Rotich at State House during a past presser"]
[/caption]
CS Rotich on Friday issued a gazette notice outlining the funds that were ready for the counties and gave an assurance that the remainder of the funds would be released before the end of the financial year.
"Allocation for county governments as per the County Allocation of Revenue Act 2017 amounts to Sh331,013,018,508. The Sh306,200,000,000 represents the equitable share and level five hospital allocations.
"The balance of Sh24,813,018,508 will be disbursed by the respective national government agencies," the Gazette notice read in part.
