A new audit has exposed how more than 20 county governments across Kenya spent over Sh15 billion on legal fees, travel, and allowances, despite struggling to deliver essential public services.

In her report for the financial year ending June 2024, Auditor General Nancy Gathungu raised alarm over widespread misuse of public funds, questionable project spending, and unchecked legal costs that she warned were hurting economic progress and weakening service delivery.

Nairobi County leads in legal fees, with Sh6.2 billion owed to just four advocates. This figure represents 29 per cent of the county executive’s total pending bills of Sh21.4 billion.