Speaking to the Star on condition of anonymity, they said services have been undermined and many suppliers have not been paid.
“We are forced to use our personal vehicles because our official ones can’t operate without insurance and fuel,” a senior county official said in confidence for fear of reprisal.
Staff also said power supply to the office of Governor Fernandes Barasa was disconnected a month ago over unpaid electricity bills and the county headquarters now relies on generators.
“As we speak now, insurance on almost all county vehicles has expired for months now. Staff, including top government officials, are forced to use their personal vehicles to perform their duties,” the official added.
Confidential interviews in different departments revealed pending bills that ought to have been paid by the end of the last financial year are still pending, despite the county having received its entire allocation for the year.
They also said imprest claims, including those from former Governor Wycliffe Oparanya’s tenure, have not been paid for seven months.
Suppliers of cleaning and other services have not been paid for four months.
When contacted for comment, the governor said slow possessing of payments was caused by accounting officers.
He admitted power to his office had been disconnected but denied it was for a month.
“The problem with Kenya Power is that when there is a bill in one department, they disconnect the entire establishment. But this again is caused by chief officers delays in making their requisitions,” he said.
Barasa said most pending bills to suppliers and contractors have been factored into the current financial year.
“Most of those bills were voided because the Treasury released money but closed Ifmis. This meant that we could not pay because all payments have to be approved through the IFMIS platform. They will however be paid soon," the governor said.
County Finance executive Livingstone Imbayi said the county received Sh990 million for July from the exchequer. He said it was spent on July salaries and the remaining half on August salaries.
“The August exchequer is yet to be released and departments are also slow in processing items to IB for payment,” he said via text.
