Deputy President Kindiki Urges Counties to Clear Pending Bills to Boost Service Delivery
DP Kindiki warns county governments that mounting debts, now at Sh34.46 billion, are harming service delivery and calls for urgent clearance of pending bills.
By John Mtongoi Newsroom
August 24, 2026
3 min read
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has called on county governments to accelerate efforts in settling pending bills, highlighting that accumulated debts are undermining service delivery and affecting businesses reliant on government contracts.
Speaking during the 30th Ordinary Session of the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) in Nairobi, Kindiki revealed that pending-bills Exchequer requests approved by the Controller of Budget have reached Sh34.46 billion.
Addressing Debt Challenges
Kindiki emphasized the importance of counties maintaining momentum in verifying, prioritizing, and clearing outstanding obligations. He noted that 35 county executives and assemblies had submitted inventories of pending bills by March 31, 2026, with 29 counties also providing action plans to tackle these debts.
“Accumulation of pending bills undermines service delivery, damages government credibility, and adversely affects businesses that depend on government contracts,” he stated.
Budget Allocation and Fiscal Responsibility
The Deputy President also highlighted that Parliament has approved an equitable share of Sh428 billion for counties in the 2026/27 financial year. Despite fiscal constraints, the National Treasury has disbursed all due funds, demonstrating commitment to supporting devolution.
He urged IBEC members to focus on delivering tangible results, fiscal responsibility, resource predictability, and efficient public fund utilization to sustain devolution gains.
Industrialisation and Food Security Initiatives
Kindiki underscored the significance of fast-tracking County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs), describing them as foundational to Kenya's industrialisation strategy. He identified counties like Meru, Embu, Kirinyaga, Kisii, Wajir, and Garissa as progressing well towards completing these parks.
Regarding food security, he acknowledged challenges due to poor harvests in key cereal-producing regions and assured that government measures are in place to mitigate hunger risks, with active engagement from the Ministry of Agriculture and support from the National Treasury.
Harmonizing County Licensing and Health Sector Coordination
Kindiki noted ongoing efforts to standardize county licensing procedures, emphasizing the need for policy adjustments to improve implementation.
He also announced a special IBEC meeting to address health-related agenda items, involving collaboration between the Council of Governors Health Committee, the Health Cabinet Secretary, the National Treasury, and other stakeholders. He praised the recent Health Summit for enhancing coordination between national and county governments.
County Financial Systems Challenges
Council of Governors Chair Ahmed Abdullahi highlighted technical difficulties affecting county financial management systems, including IFMIS loading, e-GP, and integration with Kenya Revenue Authority systems. He said governors plan to engage Treasury officials to resolve these issues, warning that delays could prevent counties from effectively utilizing allocated funds.
