Treasury disbursed half of county budget

Counties on Tuesday breathed a sigh of relief after the National Treasury released the first batch of money for their operations this financial year.

Council of Governors Chairman Peter Munya said Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich approved the release of the cash on Tuesday morning.

“What it means is that counties could now access 50 per cent of the Sh302 billion budget,” Mr Munya said.

Speaking to the Nation by phone, Mr Munya said although the Senate had failed to approve the schedule for the disbursement of cash to counties, the law allows the CS to release 50 per cent of the money.

“The CS has authorized spending for this quarter. Counties can now access up to 50 per cent of the Sh302 billion,” Mr Munya said.

The Council of Governors (CoG) had criticized the Senate for failing to approve the schedule for disbursing the cash.

On Friday, the Senate failed to get the numbers needed to put the matter to a vote.

On Monday, there was no indication from the Senate on whether there would be a special sitting to approve the schedule, which was originally part of the County Allocation of Revenue Bill.

This would mean the earliest the House can approve the schedule, which determines how much money each county gets, would be mid-September when senators resume sittings from recess.

WORKERS TO BE PAID

On Tuesday, Mr Munya said counties would now be able to pay salaries and for other services following the disbursements.

“There’s no gloom anymore,” said Mr Munya, who had on Monday described the senators' move as a “serious dereliction of duty.

The CoG chairman had said the omission dents the image of the Senate in the eyes of the public.

“They can’t find time to do what they were hired to do but they have enough time for grandstanding and puerile politics about how governors are not performing,” the Meru governor said.

'SENATORS ACCUSED OF MALICE'

But on Tuesday, a happy Mr Munya laughed off the senators' failure to pass the schedule, saying some of them were chest-thumping as they wanted the counties to suffer.

“They are now feeling deflated because money has already been released. Some were rejoicing that services in counties will come to a halt. Isn’t it ironical that same people who were supposed to ensure devolution works want it to fail?” he questioned.

Tharaka-Nithi Governor Samuel Ragwa also accused senators of sabotaging the running of counties by failing to approve the schedule.

Mr Ragwa claimed the senators intentionally delayed the finances to interrupt progress in the counties.

He said the stalemate had led to delays in paying salaries, resulting in workers' strikes.

Mr Ragwa said senators barred counties from borrowing money from banks when such delays occur because they wanted crises to recur.

He added that senators did not want governors to succeed because they were interested in running for the same positions in 2017.