Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o has unveiled a worrying trend of underperformance in development expenditure among Kenyan counties. The latest expenditure report, covering July to September 2024, exposes 10 governors who failed to spend a single shilling on development during the quarter. Instead, their administrations funneled resources into non-priority areas, including travel and personnel expenses.
The Culprits of Development Neglect
Governors Wisley Rotich (Elgeyo Marakwet), Benjamin Cheboi (Baringo), Simba Arati (Kisii), Issa Timamy (Lamu), Johnson Sakaja (Nairobi), Moses Badilisha (Nyandarua), Godhana Dhadho (Tana River), Jonathan Bii (Uasin Gishu), Simon Kachapin (West Pokot), and Joseph Ole Lenku (Kajiado) were named for their zero development expenditure. Notably, this marks a repeat offense for governors Sakaja and Kachapin, whose counties also reported no development spending in the same quarter last year.
This revelation comes as a significant blow to the governors, many of whom campaigned on promises of transformative development. Their failure to allocate resources towards infrastructure, healthcare, and other critical areas underscores a stark misalignment with public expectations.
A Widespread Problem
The report further highlights that 14 additional counties spent less than 5% of their budgets on development. Among the worst performers were Kitui, Laikipia, Nyamira, and Tharaka Nithi counties, which each spent only 1% of their budgets on development. Others, including Bomet, Bungoma, Kilifi, Nandi, and Embu, fared slightly better but still fell woefully short of the statutory requirements.
Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), Erick Mutai (Kericho), Kimani Wamatangi (Kiambu), Ochillo Ayacko (Migori), Abdulswamad Nassir (Mombasa), and Irungu Kang’ata (Murang’a) recorded 5% expenditure, highlighting a national trend of underwhelming commitment to development.
In contrast, Governors Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga) and Paul Otuoma (Busia) emerged as top performers, with each achieving a 12% absorption rate for development funds. Counties such as Siaya, Garissa, Narok, Samburu, and Kwale also made commendable strides, achieving absorption rates of 6-10%.
The Blame Game and Structural Challenges
Governors have frequently cited delays in disbursements by the National Treasury as a key impediment to development. The report acknowledges this, noting that Sh32.76 billion in equitable share and Sh30.83 billion in arrears were released late. However, this does not absolve counties of their responsibility to prioritize development.
Section 107(2)(b) of the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act, 2012, mandates that at least 30% of county budgets be allocated to development. By the end of the first quarter, counties should have utilized at least 25% of their development budgets. Instead, counties collectively spent a dismal 3% of their annual development allocation, down from 4% in the same period last year.
The Way Forward
Nyakang’o’s report stresses the urgent need for counties to adopt robust planning, monitoring, and implementation mechanisms to improve the absorption of development funds. The report calls for a reevaluation of spending priorities, urging counties to focus on impactful development projects rather than personnel emoluments and non-essentials such as travel.
The revelations underscore the urgent need for accountability among county leadership. Failure to prioritize development not only contravenes legal requirements but also undermines the potential for growth and improvement in critical sectors.
Kenya’s devolution experiment was designed to bring development closer to the people. However, reports such as these reveal that without stringent oversight and public pressure, the promise of devolution risks being hollowed out by mismanagement and misplaced priorities.
