Civil Society Organizations(CSOs) working in Nakuru County have raised alarm over what they term is ballooning county pending bills.
Under the umbrella Nakuru County Civil Society Organizations Forum(NACCSOF), the members of the CSOs are worried that the continued ballooning of pending bills that the county owes the suppliers has had a negative impact on service delivery.
According to the findings as presented by Evans Kibet from CEDGG, the state of pending bills in Nakuru County for the Fiancial Year 2024/2025 stood at Ksh 3.6Billion as at June 2025.
The Findings further reveal that development pending bills decreased whil reccurrent pending bills has been rising.
Further, private suppliers and contractors make the huge number of those owed by the county government at 65 percent followed by national government entities at 25 percent while county government entities make a 1 percent.
Majority of the pending bills fall between Ksh 1- Ksh 100,000 who are youth, PWDs, and women in micro businesses.
The findings attributed the ballooning pending bills to leakage gap on own source revenue, budget credibility, delayed disbursement of equitable share and grants, weak budget controls.
Other factors include procurement inefficiencies, political interferances, political transitions and weak caapcity among some contractors and suppliers.
Though the county government has put in place mechanisms to address the pending bills by establishing pending bills committee, Pending bill unit, there is still a challenge.
“In 2024/2025, Nakuru County prepared a payment plan for Managing the bills but it was not fully implemented,” said Kibet.
Speaking during the release of findings for the evaluation on transparency and efficiency of the County’s Fiscal Management, NACCSOF convener Masese Kemunche was categorical that pending bills remain a major hinderance to service delivery in Nakuru County.
Masese who is also the Chief Executive Officer at Centre for Enhancing Democracy and Good Governance(CEDGG), reiterated the essence of a people-centered governance.
On the evaluation that was carried out by CEDGG and members of NACCSOF, Mr. Masese noted that there has been gaps in own source revenue collection by County Government.
“Own source revenue collection by County government is key and should reflect in quality service delivery,” he stated.
He was quick to add that transparency and Accountability are key in matters revenue collection.
Mr. Masese called on citizens to stop sitting on the fence and lament for a failed government but rather be active in taking actions that can help ensure value for money.
He challenged the County Assembly of Nakuru to come up with clear strategy on revenue, partnerships even other government agencies in Nakuru towards addressing the pending bills.
The round table meeting was attended by MCAs John Maritim of Kamara Ward( Chair Finance Committee), Alex Mbugua of Lakeview Ward(Chair Budget Committee) and Deputy Speaker Anthony Kanyere Geru who is also MCA Nakuru East Ward.
Speaking during the meeting, MCA Maritim insisted on the need to have constant internal audit of how funds are utilized in various departments.
He at the same time called on his colleagues at the County Assembly to prioritize pending bills once the fiscal paper is tabled.
“We need to improve on our ICT system in Nakuru towards improving Revenue collection because Nakuru has great potential,” he said.
Sentiments echoed by his counterpart in the budget committee MCA Alex Mbugua.
According to him, engagement on pending bills is timely in addressing challenges of budget and development.
Elburgon Ward MCA Mwaura Njuguna who chairs the health committee at the County Assembly pointed out that the supplementary budget has not been tabled at the County Assembly.
This, he said has delayed the clearance of the pending bills.
The meeting brought together County Assembly Members, officials from the Department of Finance and Economic Planning, contractors, youth representatives, persons with disabilities, NACCSOF and other stakeholders.
The focus was to foster open dialogue on the state of pending bills and strengthen accountability within the county’s public finance management systems.
The deliberations underscored a shared understanding that restoring fiscal discipline, strengthening compliance, and reinforcing transparent revenue management are essential to addressing pending bills and safeguarding the progress made under devolution.