The National Treasury has released Sh10.16 billion to 16 counties, quenching their financial thirst.
The delay by the CS Ukur Yatani-led ministry had threatened to stall the operations and services.
The funds are for April.
The release pushes to Sh286.49 billion the funds the Treasury has released to the counties since the beginning of the financial year, barely 40 days to its end.
The counties were allocated Sh370 billion in the 2021-22 financial year.
Among the counties that received the cash were Baringo (Sh602.19 million), Bomet (Sh959.34 million), Busia (Sh645.49 million), Embu (Sh461.27 million) and Kiambu (Sh1.05 billion).
Others are Kirinyaga (Sh467.65 million), Kisii (Sh800.65 million), Kisumu (Sh722.35 million), Laikipia (Sh462.26 million), Narok (Sh796.03 million), Nandi (Sh629.17 million), Trans Nzoia (Sh646.75 million), Vihiga (Sh456.06 million), Tharaka Nithi (Sh379.27 million), Taita Taveta (Sh435.79 million) and Murang'a (Sh646.21 million).
With the release of the funds, the Treasury now owes the counties Sh83.6 billion, being the balances for April and May.
On Monday, the Council of Governors had warned of disruption of crucial services due to prolonged delays by the Treasury.
“It is making life difficult and threatening service delivery,” CoG Finance Committee chairman and Laikipia Governor Nderitu Murithii told the Star.
He said the CoG would soon decide on the next course of action, including and limited to court action, to push the Treasury to release the cash.
Last week, Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o told the Star that the counties were facing an acute cash shortage as the Treasury had delayed the disbursements.
“The reason why counties have not raised their voices so much is that there are conditional grants they are receiving after the additional allocation bill was passed and effected,” she said.
“The counties have been focusing on the additional allocation and forgetting the main equitable share.”
Last month, the CoG through vice chairman James Ongwae said the counties had not received Sh148.39 billion.
“We are concerned by the violation of the law and the perennial delays in disbursement of the county equitable share by the National Treasury,” Ongwae said.
He said while Kenyans continue to demand services from counties, the national government operations remain uninterrupted as county services are paralysed and nearly coming to a halt.
Ongwae said despite the counties having been allocated Sh370 billion, only Sh221.6 billion had been received by last month.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
