Faith Masita
County governments have been urged to urgently settle mounting pending bills as concerns grow over the financial health of devolved units.
The Senate has warned that the ballooning unpaid obligations could trigger legal disputes, paralyze service delivery, and cripple county operations if left unresolved.
Senate Warns of Financial Crisis as County Debts Hit Sh183 Billion
This follows a report by the Senate Committee on Budget and Finance showing that pending bills across all 47 counties have tripled in three years, reaching approximately Ksh 183 billion.
Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot noted that no county has fully cleared its pending bills in the last three years, despite continued disbursements from the national Treasury.
He warned that suppliers risk withdrawing services to counties, potentially forcing governments into court battles and enforcement actions against county accounts.
“If the ballooning pending bills are not addressed, suppliers could stop doing business with counties leading to court-enforced attachments of county accounts,” Cheruiyot said.
The report also highlights procurement weaknesses as a key driver of the crisis, with about 80% of Senate Accounts Committee investigations linked to procurement irregularities.
Cheruiyot further pointed to abandoned projects, inflated project financing, and weak audit structures as major loopholes worsening the situation.
The Senate has indicated that it is considering policy measures such as spending ceilings, sanctions, and stricter oversight to ensure counties prioritize clearing verified debts before initiating new projects.
Procurement experts under the Kenya Institute of Supplies Management (KISM) have also been engaged in efforts to strengthen procurement systems and improve compliance across counties.
