Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot has expressed support for the Controller of Budget, Margaret Nyakango, after a report on county expenditure.
Nyakang’o released a report indicating that some County Governments did not spend any money on development in the first quarter.
In a statement on X, Cheruiyot suggested that to provide a clearer and more comprehensive understanding, Nyakango should consider releasing a full financial year report instead of quarterly updates.
He went on to mention that he has personally communicated his views on this matter to Nyakango on multiple occasions.
"Margaret Nyakang'o, the COB, has a valid point on governors' actual spending on development. To give a clearer picture though, she should release a Full Financial year report other than quarterly. e.g. 2022/23 report on the same. I have written to her on this severally," he said.
The budget implementation review report by Nyakang'o showed that the devolved units spend up to six times more on personnel emoluments than on development.
The report covered the first quarter of 2023-24 FY (July 1- September 30).
According to the report, the 47 county governments spent Sh41.79 billion on personnel, or 62 per cent of their total expenditures.
This is almost seven times the Sh6.92 billion the counties spent on development.
“The county governments spent Sh6.92 billion on development activities, representing an absorption rate of 3.7 per cent of the annual development budget of Sh188.13 billion,” the report says.
The development spending is also three times less than the amount incurred on operations and maintenance, which stood at Sh18.76 billion or 28 per cent of the total expenses.
According to the report, 10 counties did not spend a shilling with five others spending less than 1.5 per cent of their budgets on development.
“The analysis of development expenditure shows that ten counties did not report any expenditure on development programmes during the period under review,” the report showed.
Embu, Kericho, Kilifi, Machakos, Nairobi City, Samburu, Turkana, Wajir and West Pokot counties did not incur any expenses on development projects.
“The Controller of Budget recommends that counties prioritise the implementation of development programmes to improve the standard of living for their citizens,” the report says.
Ideally, counties are required to have spent at least 25 per cent of their budgets on development at the end of the first quarter.
The report has come under sharp criticism from some leaders claiming that it is inaccurate.
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga said the county has made significant progress in various development projects and initiatives.
Wanga singled out the completion of the Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay town, the construction of the Outpatient Department at the County Referral Hospital, and the maternity unit at the Rachuonyo District Hospital, Magina Health Centre, Miniambo, among other hospitals.
“The county has also taken steps to modernize agriculture through the purchase of tractors and has upgraded several ECD centers, with plans to construct an additional 240,” the statement read in part.