Mandera and Wajir among Counties blacklisted by National Treasury

Mandera and Wajir counties are among 20 others added to the list of counties blacklisted by the National Treasury over unpaid pending bills.

The Treasury will now withhold cash disbursements for 35 counties. According to Acting National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yattani, the county governments have failed to pay individuals and firms who have done business with them.

Other counties in the list include Marsabit, Kisumu, Bungoma, Siaya, Lamu, Embu, Trans Nzoia, Kakamega, Kitu, Murang’a, Turkana, Meru, Samburu, Taita Taveta, Busia, Kisii, West Pokot and Nakuru.

The names of the counties appeared in a Treasury circular dated December 5 addressed to the Head of Public Service, Joseph Kinyua, Attorney General Paul Kihara, among others.

“As you recall, at the meeting of the Inter-Governmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) on June 8, it was resolved that the ministry would release at least Sh65 billion to all counties on or before June 30 to enable settlement of the eligible pending bills in the first instance,” read part of the circular, which was also sent to Council of Governors Chairman Wyclif Oparanya.

Even as the Council of Governors fault the CS Treasury, saying that in all the 47 counties, no county had received the November disbursement, the Treasury gave explanation over the move, saying the Ministry has powers to intervene at the county level for purpose of expenditure control.

“As indicated in the earlier circular, the ministry is mandated to intervene at the county level for purposes of expenditure control in cases where the county governments are involved in serious or persistent material breach of the law relating to public financing,” said Yattani.