The Senate County Public Accounts Committee has warned governors against continued failure to settle verified pending bills, terming the practice illegal and harmful to businesses and livelihoods across the country.
Speaking in Mombasa during a committee retreat bringing together stakeholders from the National Treasury, the Office of the Auditor General, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya, CPAC chairperson Senator Moses Kajwang said counties had no legal discretion once pending bills were verified.
Senator Kajwang said the Senate Finance Committee had already developed a framework, following a resolution moved last year by Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina, to guide counties on clearing pending bills. He said the committee was awaiting the tabling of the Finance Committee report when the Senate resumes sittings.
“Pending bills form a first charge on county revenues once verified. Governors have no option under the law. Ideally, those bills should be paid before salaries,” Kajwang said.
He noted that delayed payments had led to severe economic and social consequences, including business closures and personal tragedies, citing a case in Kisumu where a contractor had taken their own life due to non-payment.
“We have seen people die. People take their lives because they are not being paid. Remember, in Kisumu, some contractor just jumped off a building out of frustration. So, we are killing businesses. We are killing young people. We are killing old people and women by holding on to money,” he said.
Kajwang said the committee would from next week begin public interrogations of county audit reports next week,bills. warning that failure to prioritize pending bills while county leaders displayed opulence was unacceptable.
The senator acknowledged that some pending bills might be fraudulent but stressed the need for clear verification mechanisms rather than blanket non-payment.
The meeting was attended by CPAC vice chairperson and Taita Taveta Senator Johnes Mwaruma, Deputy Minority Leader Senator Enoch Wambua, Deputy Whip Senator Edwin Sifuna, Senator Fatuma Dulo, and Senator Mwenda Gataya.
On corruption and mismanagement, Kajwang said public discontent, especially from young people during recent Gen Z-led protests, reflected widespread frustration with wastage of public resources at the county level.
“Kenyans are tired of mismanagement, corruption and wastage in county governments,” he said.
He said the committee was developing strategies to ensure accountability for officials found to have mismanaged devolved funds, adding that devolution was meant to create opportunities and improve livelihoods.
Kajwang assured Kenyans that the committee would carry out its oversight role without political interference, saying all 47 governors would be held accountable regardless of party affiliation or region.
“We as a committee are dedicated, and we want to confirm to Kenyans that in carrying out our oversight mandate, we are not going to be dictated or influenced by the political temperatures and overtones out there,” he said.
He noted modest improvements in some audit outcomes, citing Makueni County, which had received a clean audit opinion for the first time, and commended Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.
However, Kajwang expressed concern over adverse audit opinions issued to Kericho and Tana River counties, saying the committee would summon officials from the two counties to establish the causes and ensure public funds were protected.
By Sitati Reagan
