Murang'a: The Office of the Controller of Budget has raised concerns over delays by many counties in approving their budgets, warning that such practices violate the Public Finance Management Act. Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang'o, speaking at the Murang'a County headquarters during the annual monitoring and evaluation visit, emphasized the importance of having county budgets approved by County Assemblies and submitted by governors by July 1 to facilitate immediate budget implementation.

According to Kenya News Agency, Nyakang'o highlighted the necessity for counties to expedite their budget-making processes to ensure appropriation laws are enacted promptly. She underscored the importance of prioritizing development expenditure, which is crucial for job creation. Despite acknowledging improvements in county performance, Nyakang'o expressed concern about minimal development spending in many counties, with over 20 counties recording zero development expenditure in the first quarter of the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

Nyakang'o mentioned that the Office of the Controller of Budget (CoB) continuously monitors budget implementation to identify gaps and provide advisory support to counties on areas needing improvement. She commended Murang'a County for its consistent communication and improved budget absorption, noting that her office had offered guidance on reclassifying certain expenditures from recurrent to development spending.

On the topic of procurement, Nyakang'o defended the electronic procurement system implemented by the National Treasury, acknowledging challenges in its rollout due to poor initial implementation. However, she noted that efforts are being made to build capacity among users and improve the system, which has somewhat slowed development expenditure.

Murang'a Governor Irungu Kang'ata praised the Office of the Controller of Budget for maintaining a strong working relationship with counties. He highlighted areas for improvement, such as consolidating requisitions and reclassifying expenditures like medical insurance for needy families and the provision of porridge in Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) centers from recurrent to development spending. Governor Kang'ata also pointed out ongoing issues with delayed disbursement of funds from the Exchequer, which continue to hinder county operations despite legal requirements for timely fund releases.