Treasury CS Ukur Yattani on Wednesday, January 8, announced that the national government had released a total of Ksh14.5 billion to 24 county governments.
The money was part of December allocations for the counties and in line with the government's commitment to paying all pending bills by March 2020.
In a statement on Twitter, Yattani confirmed that 15 counties that had cleared their pending bills were; Baringo, Elegeyo Marakwet, Embu, Homa Bay, Kajiado, Kericho, Kilifi, Kitui, Kwale, Laikipia, Makueni, Nyamira, Nyandarua, Nyeri and Uasin Gishu.
He further stated that the other nine devolved units which had presented clear and acceptable payment plans were Kakamega, Wajir, Nandi, Murang'a, Nairobi, Mombasa, Tharaka Nithi, Kisii and Taita Taveta.
Governors had earlier blamed Treasury over delay in remittances of the funds, arguing that the holdback contributed to them not clearing the pending bills on time.
In January 2020, the Council of Governors (CoG) demanded Treasury to release county funds to allow the administrations pay bills and salaries. CoG Chair Wycliffe Oparanya urged the ministry to comply with court orders.
“The council notes with concern that the 47 county governments have not received their December 2019 monthly disbursement, which was due on December 15, 2019.
"As a result, county governments are unable to meet their obligations, key among them being payment of eligible pending bills and paying of staff," the letter, dated January 2 read in part.
In December 2019, Interior CS Fred Matiang'i put 15 of the county heads on the spot for failing to pay their debts.
"We have been focusing on these bills to ensure they are paid and there is good progress made and we demand our colleagues in the counties pay their bills.
“Some governors don’t want to pay bills because they were incurred when their predecessors were in office and they are playing politics with the lives of the SMEs. It is not fair,” he stated.
