By MKT Correspondent
The Council of Governors is sounding an alarm to the National Government against any move to deduct monies allocated to counties in the 2024/2025 budget insisting counties should never suffer, as per the law, and if there is a loss, it should be borne by the National Government.
Consequently, the governors who spoke immediately after a meeting with Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha over the country’s shift from NHIF to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), want president William Ruto’s administration to release monies owed to counties before the end of the financial year in the next 9 days.
According to CoG chair and Kirinyaga governor Anne Waiguru, the National Government owes counties about KSh64 billion, being money for May and June, and thus should be disbursed as soon as possible to avoid it being a pending bill.
Tharaka Nithi governor Muthomi Njuki, who is also Health Committee chairperson said counties were crippled with lack of funds, saying the national government only released funds for April this week, which can only pay salaries and not in full.
The governors want the national government to be consistent in disbursement, noting president Ruto had set a precedent of offsetting all monies owed to counties by the close of the financial year and that should continue.
The 2023/2024 financial year closes on June 30th, which is 9 days away.
On health, the CoG wants all debts owed to the now defunct NHIF totalling to KSh8 billion settled, before the transition to SHIF.
According to the governors, for a smooth transition, there must be concurrence on pending bills.
Moreso, governor Njuki said there are pending bills at KEMSA that will only be paid if the National Government settles its debts to counties.
Similar Posts by Mt Kenya Times:
- The republic belongs to us: why active citizenship is Kenya’s only antidote to impunity and broken governance
- Optiven CEO George Wachiuri launches mentorship programme cohort
- Ruto pushes Coast transformation with land, development drive
- KTDA celebrates farmers on International Tea Day
- Eng Wangai Ndirangu pushes for Nyeri leather industry