The Council of Governors (CoG) has sounded the alarm over the growing burden of pending bills, now standing at a staggering Ksh.172 billion, raising concerns about the sustainability of development projects across the country. During an Extra-Ordinary Council meeting held on Thursday, CoG Chairperson and Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi called for the timely disbursement of funds from the National Treasury to counties, noting that the delay is crippling service delivery at the grassroots level.
So far, counties have received Ksh.400.26 billion of the Ksh.600.69 billion projected for the current financial year. Governor Abdullahi emphasized that the shortfall in funds is severely affecting operations and forcing the suspension or cancellation of critical projects, further undermining the goals of devolution.
Nairobi County alone accounts for more than Ksh.100 billion of the pending bills, a figure that underscores the urgent need for financial reforms and better fiscal discipline across devolved units. “Timely disbursement of funds is essential if we are to maintain the gains of devolution and meet the expectations of our citizens,” Abdullahi stated.
The meeting also served as a platform to reiterate the call for political goodwill and institutional support to strengthen devolution. Governor Abdullahi urged both levels of government to work collaboratively to ensure that counties can effectively serve their constituents and complete development projects on time.
Acknowledging the recent nationwide unrest, Abdullahi expressed solidarity with the families affected by the violence and property destruction, calling for peace and constructive dialogue. He linked the unrest to growing frustrations over governance and economic hardships, reinforcing the need for inclusive and responsive leadership.
The CoG Chairperson reaffirmed the Council’s dedication to promoting development, unity, and transparency in counties, and noted that this meeting marked the final formal engagement ahead of the upcoming Devolution Conference next month. The conference is expected to bring together stakeholders to assess progress, confront challenges, and chart the future of Kenya’s devolution agenda.
As the pending bills crisis escalates, governors are urging swift intervention to prevent further disruption and ensure that devolution continues to deliver for all Kenyans.
