NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 13 – Counties across the country spent a total of Sh1.59 billion on Members of County Assemblies (MCA) sitting allowances in the fiscal year (FY) 2023/24.
Data from the Office of the Controller of Budget shows this grew from Sh1.34 billion in the 2022/23 FY.
However, the counties expenditure on allowances was 85 percent of the Sh1.85 billion set aside.
This came on the back of austerity measures announced by President William Ruto in June this year after a series of demos against the 2024 Finance Bill.
The data also highlights the financial strain faced by county assemblies in managing their allocations.
Despite the increase in sitting allowance expenditure, key challenges hindered overall budget implementation during the fiscal year, including the National Treasury’s failure to disburse the June 2024 equitable share of revenue, an underperformance in own-source revenue collection, and a high level of pending bills.
Additionally, county assemblies struggled with excessive expenditure on personnel emoluments and travel costs, further complicating efforts to focus on development programs.
“The key challenges that adversely affected budget implementation in FY 2023/24 were the National Treasury’s non-disbursement of the June 2024 equitable share of revenue, the underperformance of own-source revenue collection, low expenditure on development programs, a high level of pending bills, high expenditure on personnel emoluments, a delay in submission of financial and non-financial reports to the CoB, the use of commercial bank accounts, and excessive expenditure on travel costs,” read the report I part.
In June, Ruto announced that high-level state offices, including devolved units, were set to face significant budget cuts following austerity measures announced after heeding calls to withdraw the Finance Bill.
“We must live within our means, respecting the very loud message that is coming from the people of Kenya. I will have conversations with stakeholders on this matter as we chart our way forward,” the president said.
