CoB report reveals counties used only 12% of funds allocated June to December 2023

The Controller of Budget (CoB) is now putting devolved units on the spot over their inability to absorb funds allocated to them and making good use of the monies either for development, recurrent expenditure or clearing pending bills.

July to December 2023 marks the close of the first half of the budget cycle; the Controller of Budget authorised withdrawals of Ksh.174.6 billion for counties to withdraw from both county revenue funds and county operational accounts.

According to the CoB report released in February, the recurrent expenditure was allocated Ksh.150.75 billion while development on the other hand was to have Ksh.23.8 billion.

Although counties withdrew more than 60 per cent of the authorised funds, the absorption at the county level has proved to be a headache according to the report.

Baringo County has been ranked the leading in their budget absorption consuming 49 per cent of the funds during the period. Kitui County also spent 40 per cent of its funds while Narok and Uasin Gishu counties took up the third place of counties with the highest absorption rate.

Machakos County has been ranked as the county with the lowest absorption rate despite money being available for use.

Makueni, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Kwale and Kakamega also had the lowest budget absorption rate denying their population the much-needed development projects.

The result of the low absorption rate according to the Controller of Budget has led to a continued ballooning of the pending bills since counties are not settling their dues with contractors, despite billions laying in the accounts.