Shame of 10 governors who spent zero on development

Details have emerged of 10 governors who failed to spend a shilling on development in a record three months.

The latest expenditure report covering July to September 2024 reveals the counties that did not spend a penny on development but splurged on other non-priority areas including travel.

The 10 governors are Wisley Rotich (Elgeyo Marakwet), Benjamin Cheboi (Baringo), Simba Arati (Kisii), Issa Timamy (Lamu), Johnson Sakaja (Nairobi), Moses Badilisha (Nyandarua), Godhana Dhadho (Tana River) and Jonathan Bii (Uasin Gishu).

Others are Simon Kachapin (West Pokot) and Joseph Ole Lenku (Kajiado).

The revelations contained in a report by Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o now shine the spotlight on some of the county bosses who campaigned on a platform of development.

For Sakaja and Kachapin, this is the second time their administrations have reported zero expenditure on development over a similar period.

In the first quarter of the last fiscal year, Nairobi and West Pokot were also listed among the devolved units that spent nothing on development.

In the new report, Nyakang’o paints a picture of counties starved of development, with 14 others spending less than five per cent of their budgets on development.

Kitui county under Governor Julius Malombe, Joshua Irungu’s Laikipia, Amos Nyaribo’s Nyamira and Muthomi Njuki’s Tharaka Nithi spent only one per cent on development. Governor Hillary Barchok’s Bomet, Kenneth Lusaka’s Bungoma, Gideon Mung’aro’s Kilifi and Stephen Sang’s Nandi spent a paltry two per cent of their budgets on development.

Other least spenders on development are Cecily Mbarire’s Embu and Fernandes Baraza’s Kakamega counties that both spent only three per cent of their budgets on development.

Governors Wilber Ottichilo’s Vihiga, Ahmed Abdullahi’s Wajir, Jeremiah Lomorukai’s Turkana, Andrew Mwadime’s Taita Taveta, Wavinya Ndeti’s Machakos and Mohamed Khalif’s Mandera spent four per cent each.

Gladys Wanga’s Homa Bay, Erick Mutai’s Kericho, Kimani Wamatangi’s Kiambu, Ochillo Ayacko’s Migori, Abdulswamad Nassir’s Mombasa and Irungu Kang’ata’s Murang’a spent five per cent of their budgets on development.

On the other hand, Nyakang’o revealed Governors Anne Waiguru’s Kirinyaga and Paul Otuoma’s Busia recorded the highest absorption rate on development.

They each attained 12 per cent, followed by Siaya and Garissa counties at 10 per cent each. Other top spenders on development were Patrick Ntutu’s Narok at nine per cent, Jonathan Lelelit’s Samburu at seven per cent and Fatuma Achani’s Kwale at six per cent.

Often, governors have blamed erratic releases by the National Treasury for the under-absorption of the development budget.

During the year under review, Treasury released Sh32.76 billion as equitable share and an additional Sh30.83 billion relating to arrears from the previous year.

“By the end of the first quarter, the county governments had not received the August and September 2024 disbursements, thereby hindering budget implementation,” the report says.

Section 107(2)(b) of the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act, 2012, requires that, over the medium term, at least 30 per cent of county government budgets must be allocated to development expenditure.

Th is implies the counties should have spent at least 25 per cent of their development vote by the end of the third month of the fi nancial year.

Most of the devolved units are channeling a huge chunk of their resources towards personnel emoluments and non-essentials such as travel.

Over the period, the 47 county governments collectively spent a paltry three per cent of their annual development budget.

This is compared to the four per cent absorption rate recorded over the same period last year.

“During the reporting period, county governments spent Sh6.71 billion on development activities, representing an absorption rate of three per cent against the annual development budget of Sh205.33 billion,” the report states.

“Th is represented a decline from the four per cent absorption rate realised in a similar FY 2023-24 period when the county governments’ cumulative expenditure on development activities was Sh6.92 billion.”

“County governments must prioritise development expenditure to meet the statutory requirement that at least 30 per cent of the budget be allocated to development activities,” the report states.

Nyakang’o said the devolved units should adopt robust project planning, monitoring and implementation mechanisms to improve the absorption rate of development funds to enhance the country’s development.