Counties are in a cash crisis slightly over two months after Parliament approved disbursement of Sh345 billion this financial year. Many governors are grappling with unpaid bills, including salary arrears as Senate on Friday considered the annual disbursement schedule for the Sh302 billion equitable share and Sh43 billion conditional allocation.
Even as National Treasury Henry Rotich gazetted the county government cash disbursement schedule to run from July to June next year, which was approved by the Senate, county chiefs are under pressure to avert strikes under their administration. Nurses have defied orders to resume work over salaries row and now the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (Kuco) has called for a strike before exhausting all avenues for dialogue.
Job grading
The Council of Governors Chairman Governor Josphat Nanok (Turkana) is concerned that for the last three months, county bosses have been supportive of Kuco on the review of clinical officers job grading. “The council is alarmed that Kuco wants to victimise county governments and their citizens for a process that is ongoing,” said Nanok.
The share as stipulated in the County Allocation of Revenue Act 2017, will factor in the equitable share, road maintenance fuel levy, development of youth polytechnics, compensation of user fees forgone, loans and grants by donors (Danida, World Bank, European Union, supplement for construction of county headquarters (Lamu Tana River) and level five hospitals. For instance, Nairobi and Turkana will receive the highest allocation in times of equitable share while Lamu, Isiolo and Tharaka/Nithi counties will get the least. Nairobi County will get more than Sh15 billion, followed by Turkana with Sh10 billion.
Kakamega comes a distance third with Sh9.9 billion, replacing Mandera which is set to get Sh9.7 billion and Kiambu Sh9.6 billion.
Lamu will get the least share at Sh2.4 billion, followed by Samburu at Sh3.8 billion and Isiolo Sh3.7 billion. Tharaka/Nithi stands at Sh3.6 billion and Elgeyo/Marakwet Sh3.6 billion. While Nairobi’s figure has increased, Turkana’s allocation has dropped from Sh11.3 billion to Sh10 billion.
Kakamega’s funds will drop by Sh1 billion, same as Mandera, while Kiambu has since received over Sh1 billion increment. For counties getting the least share, the increment is not significant as Lamu stands at 0.03 per cent, Tharaka/Nithi 0.01 per cent and Isiolo 0.07 per cent. Elgeyo/Marakwet and Samburu will get a reduction on allocation by 0.06 per cent and 0.11 per cent respectively.
“The cash disbursement schedule is based on performance of revenue raised at the national government level.
The ministry will be responsible for transfer of the supplement for construction for county headquarters, grant for compensation for users’ fee foregone among others,” said Rotich. Counties will get Sh23.3 billion conditional grants from the national government as proposed by the National Treasury and Sh164 billion from grants and loans. The donor funds will be channeled towards the instrument of devolution advice and support, the Kenya Devolution Support and Kenya Health Sector Support Programmes, Transforming Health Systems for Universal Care Project and Universal Health for Devolved System Programme.
Sh329 billion
Nairobi will get Sh553 million for roads fuel levy, Sh30million for youth polytechnic, Sh79 milion user foregone fees and over Sh150million for donors. Turkana gets Sh446 million for road maintenance fuel levy, Sh26 million youth polytechnic and Sh24 million user foregone fees, with over Sh240 million from donor funds.
On the ceilings, the county assemblies’ figure has been reduced from Sh29 billion to Sh28.8 billion, while that of the executive has increased to Sh25.9 billion. The Kenya Roads Board will however be responsible for transfer of the fuel levy fund to counties. According to the schedule, over Sh329 billion will be disbursed to counties by June 2018.
