As Kenyans struggled to cope with the high cost of living, governors splashed billions of shillings in non-priority items such as hiring of catering services, garbage collection, allowances as well as hiring of guards.

Other expenses are insurance services, legal fees, sponsoring of the governor’s cup, routine maintenance of vehicles, purchase of office furniture, printing and advertising as well as hospitality supplies and services.

For instance, on garbage seven counties spent Sh1.13 billion, on hospitality and catering services, 10 counties spent about Sh600 million while on legal fees 26 counties spent Sh1.072 billion.
Sorry state

A report of the Controller of Budget (COB) Margaret Nyakang’o for first half of 2024/25 reveals a sorry state of affairs as the counties spent Sh102.32 billion (55 per cent). On Compensation to Employees, Sh95 billion (26 per cent) went to Operations and Maintenance yet only Sh33.60 billion (18 per cent) was spent on development expenditures.

Reads the report: “Recurrent expenditure was Sh151.26 billion, representing 40 per cent of the annual recurrent budget, a similar absorption rate to that reported in the First Half of FY 2023/24, where recurrent expenditure was Sh72 billion. Development expenditure amounted to Sh33.60 billion, representing an absorption rate of 16 per cent and an increase from 12 per cent in the first half of FY 2023/23.”

In the report known as the County Governments’ Budget Implementation Review Report (CGBIRR) for the first half of the financial year 2024/25, Nairobi City County headed by Governor Johnson Sakaja is leading with the highest spending on legal fees and garbage collection as well as on other operating expenses.

On garbage collection, the county spent Sh897.82 million, on other operating expenses it spent Sh784.60 million, on supply and delivery of food stuff Sh269.29 million, hospitality supplies Sh38.03 million while on legal fees it spent Sh719.2 million.

Routine maintenance

In Patrick Ntutu’s Narok County, Sh1.5 billion was spent on ‘Specialised’ materials and services, Sh69.96 million was spent on training, Sh87.81 million on routine maintenance of vehicles, while Sh242.82 million on other operating expenses (Sh284.82 million).

In governor James Orengo’s Siaya County, the report shows that the county spent Sh22.19 million on contracted guards and cleaning services, Sh82.51 million on insurance, Sh55.96 million on training expenses, Sh38.01 million on general office supplies and Sh39.45 million on routine maintenance while in Bungoma headed by Governor Ken Lusaka, the county Sh173.33 million was used on garbage collection, Sh39.13 on printing and advertisement, rent Sh6.14 million on utilities and communication and Sh21.16 million on fuel and lubricants,

Garbage collection

In Bomet headed by Hillary Barchok, the county spent Sh20.82 million on garbage collection, Sh25.943 million on public participation Sh40.08 million on training expenses and Sh42.08 million on hospitality expenses while in Busia county, the county spent Sh41 million on training expenses, Sh18 million on fuel and Sh20 million on general office supplies.

Interestingly in Glady’s Wanga Homa Bay county and Wavinya Ndeti’s Machakos, the report shows that the two counties spent a whooping Sh64.02 million on governor’s cup.

In Machakos county, the report shows that of the money, Sh45.02 million was spent on the Governor’s Cup and KICOSCA games while on security operations the county spent Sh 7.59 million, Sh4.66 million on contracted technical services, Sh14.02 million on contracted guards and cleaning services, Sh49.18 million on Food and rations, Sh21.2 million on General office suppliers and Sh 167.36 million on hospitality supplies and services while in Wanga’s Homa Bay Sh 19 million was spent on Governor’s Cup, Sh 37.23 million was spent on office and general supplies and services while Sh 27.4 million was spent on training expenses.

In Wesley Rotich’s Elgeyo Marakwet, the county spent Sh 6 million on field allowances, in Joseph Ole Lenku’s Kajiado County they spent Sh17.85 million on printing, advertising and information supplies, Sh54.75 million on legal fees/dues, arbitration and compensation payments, and legal fees while in Governor Fernandes Barasa’s Kakamega Sh53 million was used on office furniture and general supplies and services, Sh418 million on routine maintenance (buildings, vehicles) and Sh6.06 million on legal fees.

In Governor Gideon Mung’aro’s Kilifi County, the report shows that Sh200 million was spent on housing loans to public servants, Sh60 million on foods and rations, Sh44.81 million on contracted guards while in Kisumu headed by Governor Anyang Nyong’o Sh 48.21 million was spent on legal fees, Sh 1.77 million was spent on catering and hospitality, Sh16.23 million was spent on garbage collection.

In Governor Julius Malombe’s Kitui County, the report shows that Sh99 million was spent on Printing, advertising, and information, Sh65 million on training expenses, Sh50 million on other operating expenses including bank charges, Sh28 million on office and general supplies.

In Laikipia county headed by governor Joshua Irungu Sh 19.53 million was spent on constituency office expenses, Sh7.04 on legal fees, Sh5.44 million on General office supplies, Sh5.21 million on advertising and publicity in Governor Issa Timamy’s Lamu County Sh16.82 million was spent on training Expenses, Sh7.36 million was spent on hospitality supplies while Sh4.09 million was spent on office and general supplies while in Kwale headed by Governor Achani Sh 7 million was spent on printing , Sh8 million on training and Sh39 million on fuel. In Governor Kawira Mwangaza’s Meru county, Sh362 million was spent on insurance cost, Sh37.58 million was spent on hospitality supplies and services Sh 37.58 billion, In Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir, Sh76.5 million was spent on hospitality supplies and services, Sh 13.33 million on purchase of office furniture Sh 10.48 million on advertising, printing and information and Sh 9.08 million on training expenses while in Jonathan Bii’s Uasin Gishu Sh 174 million was spent on board allowances, Sh 25 million Catering services and Sh 36 million was spent on Training expenses.