Counties without budgets will not receive funds

By James Anyanzwa

Kenya: Office of the Controller of Budget will not release funds to counties whose budgets and relevant appropriations Bills have not been approved by county assemblies.

Controller of Budget Agnes Odhiambo has also raised concerns over the outrageous budgetary allocations on non-core activities by most counties, saying such allocations would soon be subjected to interrogation by her office.

“My attention has been drawn to the fact that some counties have not managed to meet the constitutional requirement on budget approval and appropriation deadlines as provided for under the Public Finance Management Act and would like to state that such counties would not get funds starting today (Monday) because it is unconstitutional,” Odhiambo told a media briefing in Nairobi yesterday.

Ms Odhiambo, howver, clarified that those counties whose appropriation Bills have already been approved by county assemblies and were still awaiting the respective govenors’ assents would be entitled to 50 per cent of their annual budgets.

The Constitution gives the Controller of Budget the mandate to oversee the implementation of the budgets of both national and county governments by authorising withdrawals from public funds; the Consolidated Fund, the County Revenue Fund and the Equalisation Fund.

The Controller of Budget cannot approve withdrawal from any public fund unless satisfied the law authorises the withdrawal.

Odhiambo noted that the statutory deadline for the passing of the budget estimates and the approval of the appropriation Bills is on June 30 of every year.

“It is therefore the position of the Controller of Budget that any county that did not meet the constitutional and statutory deadline of passing the budget estimates and approving the appropriations Bill shall be at risk of not receiving any funds as the office shall not approve withdrawals which are in contravention of the law,” she said.

Odhiambo could not divulge identity of counties that have not met constitutional requirements for funding, saying county budget coordinators were still gathering information.