“We Are Unaware of Any Delays,” Turkana Governor Lomorukai Responds To County Speaker Nakuleu On Delayed Funds Disbursement

Last Updated on January 26, 2025 by NewsTurkana

Key Highlights:

• Speaker Nakuleu decried delayed funds and proposed a joint committee to resolve the issue.

• Governor Lomorukai denied any delays from the County Treasury, citing prompt disbursement upon receipt from the National Treasury.

• Turkana County is grappling with Ksh 4.78 billion in pending bills.

LODWAR— The financial conflict between the offices of Turkana County Speaker Christopher Nakuleu and Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai has escalated, with both leaders issuing strong statements regarding the delayed disbursement of funds.

Speaker Nakuleu has accused the County Treasury of withholding critical funds, claiming this has crippled constitutional activities and hampered service delivery in Turkana County.

In a fiery letter dated January 21, 2025, Nakuleu highlighted the growing impact of the delays, warning of their implications for the county’s operations.

“I wish to bring to your attention the notable delay in funds disbursements to the County Assembly, leading to a halt in constitutional activities and impacting service delivery,” Nakuleu wrote.

He further proposed forming a joint committee comprising representatives from both the County Assembly and County Executive to investigate the causes of the delays, particularly regarding requests at the Controller of Budget’s office and actions by the County Finance Executive Committee Member.

In response, Governor Lomorukai, through a letter dated January 24, 2025, dismissed the allegations, stating that the County Treasury has disbursed all funds due to the County Assembly promptly upon receipt from the National Treasury.

“We are therefore unaware of any delays that are attributable to the County Treasury,” the governor noted.

Lomorukai further argued that forming a joint committee, as suggested by Nakuleu, lacks a legal basis due to the separation of powers between the County Executive and the County Assembly.

The standoff comes amidst growing financial concerns in Turkana County. Data from the Office of the Controller of Budget shows Turkana County as one of the top ten counties with the highest pending bills, accumulating Ksh 4.78 billion during the 2023/2024 financial year. These unpaid bills have disrupted essential projects, including infrastructure, education, and healthcare services, leaving contractors and suppliers in dire financial straits.

County officials have attributed the situation to delayed disbursements from the national government and limited local revenue.

As the blame game continues between Speaker Nakuleu and Governor Lomorukai, residents of Turkana County are left waiting for a resolution to restore service delivery and address the growing debt crisis. The spotlight is now on county leadership to take swift, collaborative action to ensure financial accountability and stabilize the region’s economic outlook.