Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has called for a reduction in the number of counties, arguing that the current structure is financially unsustainable due to the high wage bill.
Speaking during an interview on Wednesday, March 19, Mbadi suggested that Kenya should either revert to the eight regions under the old constitution or adopt a maximum of 14 counties. He noted that the government is struggling to pay county staff salaries due to the large number of employees.
“If you visit counties, you will find all sorts of directors—directors of fishermen, boda bodas, music, and culture—earning hefty salaries. The 47 counties, each operating as a full-fledged government, are simply too many for our economy to sustain,” he stated.
Mbadi further highlighted that each county has a governor, a deputy governor, and a full cabinet, including up to ten County Executive Committee (CEC) members, chief officers, and county assemblies, which contribute to a bloated public wage bill.
According to the Treasury CS, reducing the number of counties would help stabilize the country’s finances while ensuring resources reach the grassroots.
“I believe a maximum of 14 counties would work. Rift Valley, for example, was made up of two or three provinces combined, and the same applies to Eastern. Even eight counties could serve us well if resources are properly devolved,” Mbadi explained.
He also pointed out that the government spends Ksh 960 billion annually on salaries, which is a significant portion of the Ksh 2.5 trillion collected in revenue. Additionally, Ksh 1.1 trillion goes toward loan repayments, leaving little room for development projects.
“Currently, we spend about Ksh 80 billion per month on salaries at the national level. With loan repayments also taking a huge share, we must rethink how to manage our finances effectively,” he added.
His remarks come amid ongoing discussions on public expenditure and strategies to ease Kenya’s financial burden while maintaining effective service delivery at both the national and county levels.
