National Govt to advance cash for county salaries, says DP William Ruto

Deputy President William Ruto (right) and Charles Nyachae, the chairman of the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution, during the commemoration of the promulgation of the Kenyan Constitution in Kisumu on August 27, 2014. PHOTO | DPPS 

In Summary

• On Tuesday, governors expressed concern that none of the 47 counties had money to pay salaries, following the delay in disbursement of the Sh227 billion revenue allocation due to the counties.
• The National Assembly approved the County Allocation of Revenue Bill on Tuesday last week, with amendments to the version that had earlier been passed by the Senate.

By NATION REPORTER
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The National Government will advance money to counties to pay public servants their August salaries, Deputy President William Ruto has announced.

The Deputy President said the money would be released through a resolution of the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council, to be refunded later.

On Tuesday, governors expressed concern that none of the 47 counties had money to pay salaries, following the delay in disbursement of the Sh227 billion revenue allocation due to the counties.

Council of Governors chairman Isaac Ruto said the delay would likely cause a major labour dispute between county governments and labour unions, with the Union of Kenya Civil Servants threatening to have its members boycott work if the salaries were delayed.

The situation was caused by the delay in the enactment of the Division of County Revenue Bill, which sets the allocation to the counties.

The National Assembly approved the County Allocation of Revenue Bill on Tuesday last week, with amendments to the version that had earlier been passed by the Senate.

The Senate is set to reconvene next week after its recess to review the changes to the Bill before it can be signed by President Uhuru Kenyatta.