Murang'a: The national treasury has been urged to accelerate the implementation of the e-procurement system to facilitate the release of funds designated for county governments. Governor Irungu Kang'ata, supported by Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua, highlighted on Monday that delays in the new procurement system's implementation have impeded the disbursement of funds to devolved administrations, thereby affecting service delivery.
According to Kenya News Agency, Governor Kang'ata, who hosted the senator along with a delegation of MCAs from Kitui, Machakos, and Makueni counties, emphasized that the prolonged delays have severely disrupted operations in devolved units, posing a threat to essential services. He noted that counties have not received their equitable share allocation from the exchequer for three consecutive months, impacting their ability to pay staff salaries, settle supplier bills, or procure essential drugs for hospitals.
Governor Kang'ata expressed concern over the situation, stating that county workers are experiencing salary delays, and bursary payments have ceased, forcing many students to remain at home due to financial constraints. He detailed the challenges in Murang'a, where needy students fully funded by the county government are struggling to return to school for the third term. The governor also pointed out that hospitals are facing medicine shortages, and suppliers are withdrawing due to unpaid bills, attributing these issues to the e-procurement system's implementation.
Governor Kang'ata explained that the introduction of the electronic government procurement (e-GP) system has disrupted budget processing and disbursement, as funds cannot be released until county budgets are integrated into the digital platform. He urged relevant government agencies to expedite the system's completion to restore normal services. Additionally, Kang'ata warned that the funding shortfall has stalled key county programs, including road construction and bursary allocations, threatening to reverse development gains.
Senator Wambua supported Kang'ata's concerns, asserting that the national treasury is constitutionally obligated to release funds to counties by the 15th of each month. He noted that delays not only hinder service delivery but also undermine devolution principles. The senator criticized the e-procurement rollout, suggesting that it should have been implemented gradually, possibly through piloting, rather than abruptly replacing the existing system.
Senator Wambua emphasized that counties nationwide face similar challenges, with staff unrest over unpaid salaries, stranded bursary beneficiaries, and suspended development projects. He underscored the Senate's role in passing the allocation of revenue bill months ago and stressed the national treasury's responsibility to remit funds to county governments. Wambua urged the treasury to address e-procurement challenges and release funds promptly to prevent a total shutdown of devolved functions.
In contrast, the senator praised development projects in Murang'a County, encouraging other devolved units to emulate the initiatives led by Governor Kang'ata's administration. He highlighted advancements in the ECDE sector, health, agriculture, and digitization of services as exemplary models of devolution in action.