Counties urged to reduce spending

The controller of budget Ms Agnes Odhiambo. She revealed that more than half of the 47 counties did not spend any money on development between March and June, was disturbing. PHOTO/FILE  NATION

In Summary

• Movement for Change of the Constitution said hefty charges introduced by most of the counties had made life difficult for Kenyans, most of whom were already living in abject poverty.
• The controller, Ms Agnes Odhiambo, said most counties were yet to use the system, despite being required to do so by the Treasury, making it difficult for her office to know the exact amount of money used by the 47 devolved units. 

 

By Nation Reporter
More by this Author

A lobby wants county governments to quickly adjust their budgets to reduce excessive expenditure and ease the high cost of living.

Movement for Change of the Constitution said hefty charges introduced by most of the counties had made life difficult for Kenyans, most of whom were already living in abject poverty.

Lobby chairman Musa Kilonzo, speaking in Mombasa on Sunday, urged the national government to consider deploying independent financial experts to counties to solve hitches in budget making processes.

This comes at a time when the Controller of Budget is preparing a law that will force county governments to automate all their expenses, to allow the office to easily monitor money used by governors.

As per the draft law, counties will key all their spent money in the Treasury-recommended Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) instead of preparing manual accounting books.

The controller, Ms Agnes Odhiambo, said most counties were yet to use the system, despite being required to do so by the Treasury, making it difficult for her office to know the exact amount of money used by the 47 devolved units.

IFMIS is an automated system used for public financial management.