Cheruiyot defends Sh450bn county fund, urges accountability

Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot has firmly backed the Sh450 billion allocation to counties, emphasizing that these funds are crucial for advancing devolution and promoting balanced development across the country.

During an interview on a local TV station on Monday, June 2, 2025, Cheruiyot acknowledged the ongoing criticism aimed at county governments regarding their financial management but pointed out that counties are still underfunded and face challenges in delivering services effectively because of insufficient budgets.

"There’s a clear expectation that whenever public funds are allocated to any institution or agency, they must be used responsibly. This standard applies equally to both national and county governments," Cheruiyot explained.

He emphasized that while public accountability is vital, it should not be selectively used to deny counties their rightful share of national revenue.

Cheruiyot criticized those who cite Auditor-General reports on county mismanagement as a reason to block or reduce county funding.

"What concerns me is that some people who oppose strengthening devolution exploit these reports of malfeasance in counties to justify withholding resources. If this logic were applied fairly, then even the national government shouldn’t receive funding," he said.

Cheruiyot pointed out that accountability challenges exist at both levels of government, yet counties are often subjected to harsher scrutiny.

He noted that the Auditor-General regularly highlights issues in national ministries and state corporations without the same level of criticism.

"As senators and members of the official family, we still believe that counties are yet to be adequately funded to function effectively," he added.

"What they receive is barely enough to keep them afloat."

He emphasized that a significant portion of county government budgets is consumed by salaries and other recurring costs, leaving minimal funds available for actual development projects.

According to him, this is a fundamental structural challenge rather than a direct indication of corruption or inefficiency.

"Most counties can only allocate a relatively small portion of their budget to development activities," he explained.

"There will never be enough resources to cover everything. The key for county governments is to set clear priorities and make realistic plans."

He also recognized previous delays in parliamentary procedures related to audit oversight.

Cheruiyot referred to a recent court ruling that pointed out the Senate’s failure to review Auditor-General reports within the six-month period mandated by the Constitution.

"County governments took legal action, and as a result, the Senate was found to have delayed reviewing these reports sometimes even one or two years after they were issued," he noted.

"This was a lapse on our part, and we are now working to address it."

On concerns about fiscal discipline, Cheruiyot remarked that public conversations often exaggerate the issues or simplify the complexities of budgeting at the county level.

He warned against what he called “over-sensationalizing” financial management in counties.

"Some of the claims being made are neither practical nor feasible," he said.

"Each budget item is linked to specific votes and suppliers. What is often labeled as ‘budgeted corruption’ typically relates to inflated procurement costs it’s not about outright theft but rather inefficiency in the use of funds."

Nevertheless, Cheruiyot expressed hope that reforms are making progress, particularly due to growing public demand for transparency.

"Since the start of this financial year on July 1, we have observed some positive changes, which are important for maintaining momentum in accountability," he said.