A report by the Controller of Budget, Margaret Nyakang’o, has revealed that 10 counties did not allocate any funds for development projects during the first quarter of the 2024/25 financial year.
In the report released in November 2024, it was disclosed that the counties which spent Ksh0 on development between July and September 2024 included Nairobi City County, under Governor Johnson Sakaja’s leadership. Other counties with no development expenditure included Lamu, Kajiado, Kisii, and Baringo.
Additionally, Elgeyo-Marakwet, Nyandarua, Tana River, Uasin Gishu, and West Pokot counties also did not report any development spending during the same period.
In contrast, Kirinyaga County and Busia County recorded the highest budget expenditure on development, at 12 percent each. Siaya and Garissa counties also demonstrated notable expenditure, with a budget absorption rate of 10 percent.
The Controller of Budget expressed concern over the low spending on development by county governments. According to the report, the 47 county governments collectively spent only Ksh6.71 billion on development activities, out of an annual development budget of Ksh205.33 billion. This resulted in an absorption rate of just 3 percent.
The Controller emphasized the need for counties to prioritize development expenditure to meet the statutory requirement that at least 30 percent of the budget be allocated to development activities, as per the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act, 2012.
“County governments must prioritize development expenditure to comply with the statutory requirement and enhance the country’s overall development. Robust planning, monitoring, and implementation mechanisms are essential to improving the absorption rate of development funds,” the statement concluded.
