Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi, on Wednesday, April 25, narrated how he kept the county afloat despite the Council of Governors declaring a crisis in the devolved units after the National Government delayed disbursements.
In an address, Wamatangi indicated that he adopted smart strategies that helped Kiambu County clear its pending bills including salaries as well as paying contractors and tenderpreneurs.
According to the first-time Governor, stopping the plundering of public resources was one of the key strategies he adopted to sustain Kiambu County operations.
The Governor further disclosed that his administration had adopted a saving tactic whose proceeds were used during economic downtime.
"What we have done is we have decided we are going to run a responsible system that anything called plunder, misuse or wastage of public resources, we are not going to allow it to continue being done when we are still in office.
"So we have embarked on a serious plan of saving every penny you receive," Wamatangi stated.
Wamatangi ruled out acquiring credit to support the county. He insisted that his strategy had assured Kiambu County of sufficient operating funds.
He argued that his administration was committed to clearing all bills upon delivery.
"There is no credit or loan that we have taken or committed, or neither are we intending to procure those services on debt or credit.
"Our plan is to pay for everything we have announced or intend to do. Indeed, we have the money to do so. I want to tell you, my colleagues, there is not a single person that has delivered one piece of any medical supply that has not been paid," the Kiambu Governor reiterated.
Council of Governors' Chairperson and Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru had appealed to President William Ruto to release funds to counties to avert the looming crisis. The governors threatened to shut down the counties due to the delay.
She told the President that counties depended on loans to sustain operations leaving them with many pending bills.
However, on Monday, April 24, Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung'u vowed to release funds to support devolution.
"The Treasury will release February 2023's disbursements to counties, totaling Ksh31.45 billion, by the end of the week.
"Moreover, disbursements for March and April 2023 were set to be released in May 2023, while those for May and June will be issued in June of the same year," the CS stated.
To further support devolution, President Ruto increased the county's equitable share by Ksh15.4 billion.
"This means that Counties will receive Ksh385.4 billion in the 2023/2024 financial year compared to the current Ksh370 billion," a dispatch from State House read in part.
