Delay in National Treasury Funds Cripples County Services Across Kenya
County governments across Kenya, including Bomet, are grappling with a severe disruption of essential services following delays in the disbursement of funds from the National Treasury. The delayed release of Equitable Share funds for the second half of the 2024/2025 financial year—covering January through April—has left counties struggling to maintain basic operations, particularly in healthcare and water provision.
The Council of Governors (CoG) has raised the alarm, warning that the delay is undermining devolved functions and frustrating service delivery. According to CoG, the National Government currently owes counties over KSh 63 billion, and the continued withholding of funds risks a complete shutdown of county operations. Failure to release funds on time has left the provision of services on its knees, said the council, highlighting the growing frustration among both officials and residents.
The impact has been immediate and severe. In Bomet County, some health facilities have reportedly run out of essential medicines and supplies, while water distribution points remain dry. Staff across multiple counties are going unpaid, with salaries delayed for months, fueling discontent and public protests. Citizens have expressed anger at the stalling of critical services, with concerns that prolonged funding gaps could escalate into wider social unrest. The CoG noted that technical issues with the IFMIS system, coupled with over-reliance on county overdrafts, have compounded the crisis.
County officials are calling on the National Treasury to adhere to legal timelines for fund disbursement to ensure counties can fulfill their mandates. Wilperson Kirui, County Director for Intergovernmental Relations and Liaison, emphasized the urgency of the matter, noting that essential functions such as healthcare, water supply, and other public services depend entirely on timely release of equitable funds. As the financial year nears its end, county governments hope for immediate intervention to avert further paralysis of services, restore public confidence, and safeguard the welfare of residents.