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Last Updated on January 25, 2025 by Turkana County News Online
LODWAR: Turkana County has been ranked among the top 10 counties with the highest pending bills.
Data from the Office of the Controller of Budget reveals that Turkana recorded pending bills of Ksh4.78 billion in the 2023/2024 financial year, placing it alongside other counties grappling with significant debt burdens.
In total, 30 out of 47 counties reported pending bills exceeding Ksh1 billion during this financial year, marking a sharp increase compared to the previous year.
Nairobi County leads with an overwhelming Ksh121.06 billion in pending bills, which accounts for 62% of the total debts reported across all counties. Other counties with notable debt levels include:
1. Garissa – Ksh6.07 billion
2. Kiambu – Ksh5.90 billion
3. Turkana – Ksh4.78 billion
4. Machakos – Ksh4.42 billion
5. Mombasa – Ksh3.93 billion
6. Kisumu – Ksh2.76 billion
7. Kisii – Ksh2.31 billion
8. Tana River – Ksh2.12 billion
9. Kilifi – Ksh2.05 billion
In Turkana, the accumulation of unpaid debts owed to contractors, suppliers, and service providers has disrupted essential projects and strained service delivery. Contractors have reported operational challenges due to delayed payments, further stalling critical initiatives in areas like water, education, and healthcare.
County officials cite delayed disbursements from the national government and limited local revenue as the main causes of the backlog. However, there is growing pressure on the county administration to improve budgetary planning, prioritize debt settlement, and prevent further arrears.
As Turkana intensifies efforts to deliver on its development agenda, addressing the Ksh4.78 billion pending bills will be key to restoring trust and ensuring smooth project implementation.
The escalating county debts have drawn national attention, prompting calls for stringent financial accountability measures to prevent further accumulation and enhance service delivery across the country.
