The Kenyan government has hit out at the inability of government departments to finish paying their pending bills.
Such pending bills by the counties are contrary to Section 94 the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) of 2012.
” Failure of the national government NDMA’s and County Government to pay outstanding bills that are authentic and due is a material breach of the PFMA, which warrants National Treasury intervention in the manner contemplated under 255 of the Constitution,” reads the statement from Amb Yatani.
His statement goes on further to add: “In this regard, National Government MDA’s and County Governments that have not made any effort to settle outstanding bills in the financial year 2019/2020 are in material breach of the PFMA (1) (a),” reads the statement.”
He, however, points out that there have been 12 counties that have been able to comply with clearing their pending bills. These include: Elegeyo Marakwet, Homa Bay, Kajiado, Kericho, Kilifi, Kwale, Nyamira, Nyandarua, Uasin Gishu.
Other counties, however, are yet to fully comply with paying their pending bills, observes the statement from Amb Ukur Yatani.
These include: Taita Taveta, Turkana, Kisumu, Meru, Samburu, Nakuru, Murang’a, Mandera, Busia, Marsabit, Kitui, West Pokot, Embu, Kakamega, Wajir, Siaya, Bungoma and Lamu.
Amb Yattani says that there are mitigation efforts that the government can take to mitigate the pending bills by some of the 15 counties, including Narok, Machakos, Vihiga, Isiolo, Tana River, Migori, Tharaka Nithi, Bomet, Garissa, Kiambu, Baringo, Nandi and Mombasa.
” To invoke the powers under section 97 of the PFMA to stop transfers to all the 53 National Government MDA’s that have not demonstrated any effort to clear any pending bills by December 1st, 2019,” states Amb Ukur Yatani.