Auditor General Nancy Gathungu discovered Treasury broke constitution rules about money for poor counties. The government owes 46.5 billion shillings to 14 struggling areas across Kenya. Officials collected 60 billion shillings over 13 years but sent just 13.4 billion to the counties. The Treasury violated Article 204, which demands half a percent of national income go to needy regions. Counties like Mandera, Turkana, and Wajir need funds for water, roads, hospitals, and power.
Government records show the Treasury consistently fails to send the required money each year. During the 2012-13 period, counties received only 529 million from the 2.6 billion they deserved. The 2020-21 budget gave counties a small fraction of their 6.7 billion allocation. Gathungu called this pattern a catastrophic failure to help historically ignored communities. Even transferred money sits unused, with 2.3 billion remaining idle.
County governors expressed anger about the Treasury choking development through financial strangulation. Marsabit Governor Mohamud Ali called the situation economic sabotage against marginalized people. Kakamega Governor Ferdinand Barasa wants separate appropriation laws for back payments. The constitutional fund expires in 2031-32 before completing its development mission. Leaders threaten court action over constitutional violations.
Government records show the Treasury consistently fails to send the required money each year. During the 2012-13 period, counties received only 529 million from the 2.6 billion they deserved. The 2020-21 budget gave counties a small fraction of their 6.7 billion allocation. Gathungu called this pattern a catastrophic failure to help historically ignored communities. Even transferred money sits unused, with 2.3 billion remaining idle.
County governors expressed anger about the Treasury choking development through financial strangulation. Marsabit Governor Mohamud Ali called the situation economic sabotage against marginalized people. Kakamega Governor Ferdinand Barasa wants separate appropriation laws for back payments. The constitutional fund expires in 2031-32 before completing its development mission. Leaders threaten court action over constitutional violations.
