Governors have asked the National Treasury to release Sh125.8 billion owed to counties, warning that operations in devolved units are almost coming to a halt.
Council of Governors chair Ann Waiguru said counties are facing financial challenges since they have not received any resources since December last year.
“We are at a point where counties could come to a standstill. Many of our staff are suffering, they are hardly able to report to work. Most counties have not paid salaries for two months,” she lamented.
Waiguru asked the National Treasury to prioritise county governments before they come to a halt.
“I understand there is a strain but even as they pay salaries at the national level we urging them to remember those county governments also employ civil servants. If they pay 50 per cent of salaries at the national level, they should also give us 50 per cent,” she suggested.
Waiguru noted that services such as healthcare, infrastructure development and provision of water require resources.
“Every month, you have to pay salaries, buy medicine and keep vehicles running. We cannot continue to have a backlog of three to four months,” she added.
She said counties have been taking overdrafts from banks to meet some financial obligations because of the delays.
Kiambu governor Kimani Wamatangi said the National Treasury owes his county Sh4 billion.
“What will happen is that the National Treasury will realise the money towards the end of the financial year. If the money is released in June, it means the money will go to the next cycle.
Wamatangi said governors are justified to lament over the delays since county staff may end up downing their tools.
