NYERI, Bomet, and Nyandarua counties recorded the highest absorption rate of the money allocated to them, this is according to the first annual Budget Implementation Review report.
The report by the Office of the Controller of Budget covering the period between July 2013 to June 2014 says that Nyeri had the highest absorption rate at 93.9 per cent of the annual budget followed by Bomet and Nyandarua counties at 93.5 per cent and 85.3 per cent respectively.
On the other hand, the report-the first of its kind since the establishment of the county governments in March 2013 – lists Tana River, Turkana, and Lamu counties as counties that had a low utilisation of their funds allocation.
Tana River and Turkana recorded 41.3 percent and 41.9. percent absorption rate, whereas Lamu had 44.2 per cent absorption rate. Interestingly, Nairobi City at 168.7 per cent, Tharaka Nithi at 102 counties recorded the highest expenditure compared to the funds released to them.
“Expenditure by the Nairobi City and Tharaka Nithi Counties exceeded the total funds released during the period under review. On the other hand, Tana River, Uasin Gishu and Lamu counties recorded the lowest expenditure as a proportion of funds released at 48 per cent, 61.6 per cent and 66.4 per cent respectively,” the report reads in part.
On aggregate expenditure for the twelve months by the County Governments amounted to Sh169.4 billion which comprised of Sh132.8 billion (78.4 per cent) for recurrent expenditure and Sh36.6 billion (21.6 per cent) for development expenditure.
The total expenditure by counties was 89.5 per cent of the funds released and represents an absorption rate of 64.9 per cent of the total annual county budgets.
– the-star.co.ke
