Nairobi City County has been ranked among the counties allocating the least percentage of their budget to pay contractors and suppliers.
A report by the Controller of Budget (CoB) shows that by April 17, 2023, counties had settled Ksh23.96 billion or 49.78 percent of the Ksh49.1 billion eligible pending bills.
Data from the National Treasury indicates that Governor Johnson Sakaja has paid Ksh975.2 million of the Ksh10.6 billion pending bills.
This is only 9 percent of the verified unpaid bills despite receiving the highest amount of allocation from the national government.
Nairobi was allocated Ksh20 billion in equitable sharing revenue but when the own-source revenue is included the amount increases.
Nairobi was Listed alongside 3 Counties
However, Kiambu County tops ahead of Nairobi in the pending bills owed to suppliers.
Out of the Ksh3.3 billion, the county has only paid Ksh143.3 million which translates to 4 percent.
Governor Patrick Ntuntu has settled 26 percent of Narok’s pending bills despite receiving Ksh9.19 billion allocation in the current fiscal year.
Narok has eligible pending bills totaling to Ksh911.8 million but has settled only Ksh237.6 million.
Kajiado County which is led by Joseph Ole Lenku has paid Ksh420 million of the Ksh1.4 billion, a payment rate of 30 percent.
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Best Paying Counties
On the other hand, Nyeri, Siaya and Mandera have been listed as the best counties to do business.
According to the report, the three have cleared all their verified pending bills making them the best counties for suppliers and contractors.
Governor James Orengo (Siaya) has settled arrears of Ksh239.4 million, Governor Mohamed Khalif (Mandera) has cleared all its pending bills which stood at Ksh195.6 million while Governor Mutahi Kahiga (Nyeri) had Ksh477.3 million and cleared it.
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Other counties which have cleared the largest amount of pending bills include Governor Irungu Kang’ata’s Muranga (99.7%), Governor Issa Timamy’s Lamu (99%), Governor Amos Nyaribo’s Nyamira (99%), Governor Ochillo Ayacko’s Migori (96%) and Governor Jonathan Leleliit’s Samburu (95%).
Additionally, Governor Mutula Kilonzo’s Makueni (93%), Governor Kawira Mwangaza’s Meru (91%), %), Governor Andrew Mwadime of Taita Taveta (91%), Governor Ahmed Abdullahi’s Wajir (94%) and Simon Kachapin’s West Pokot (90%) have also recorded good payment records.
Others are, Governor Kenneth Lusaka of Bungoma (88%), Governor Fernandes Barasa’s Kakamega (85%), Governor Susan Kihika’s (84) and Governor George Natembeya Trans Nzoia (89%).