“Submit Budgets On Time!” – CoB Nyakang’o Tells Counties
Margaret Nyakang’o, the Controller of Budget, has asked counties to submit their budgetary appropriations on schedule to ensure a smooth budget implementation process.
Nyakango’o noted that the majority of counties have been delaying the submission of their budgets, which she said violates the Public Financial Management Act.
Speaking in Murang’a during a monitoring and evaluation visit on Thursday, December 18, 2025, Nyakang’o stated that late submission has an impact on the utilization of monies in devolved areas.
“All the budgets by county governments are supposed to have been approved by the county assemblies and forwarded to the treasury by the 1st of July so that the budget implementation process can begin,” she said.
“The counties need to up their game and fast-track the budget-making process to avoid some hitches that we are countering in the process,” Nyakang’o added.
Controller of Budget Dr. Margaret Nyakang’o faults counties over delayed budgets
— TV 47 Digital (@tv47digital) December 18, 2025
Controller of budget Dr. Margaret Nyakang’o has raised concern over delays by several counties in approving their budgets, warning that the practice violates the public finance management act.… pic.twitter.com/DGSnGhGYBP
Furthermore, the budget controller advised counties to prioritize development projects, claiming that doing so would allow them to create jobs and stimulate economic growth.
She expressed concern that more than twenty counties spent nothing on development during the first quarter of the fiscal year 2025/26.
“One of the reasons this happened is because the counties submitted their budgets late, and this affected their absorption of the funds allocated to them,” she remarked.
“It’s not enough for us to complain that Treasury has not released the funds if we don’t have the budget to absorb the funds,” added Nyakang’o.
“So I am appealing to the counties to step up the budget-making process.”
Additionally, Nyakang’o supported the National Treasury’s electronic procurement system.
She remarked that, despite the problems, it remains the best approach for financial management.
She recognized that the system’s introduction had been difficult owing to poor initial implementation, but added that capacity building will be done for all users so that they can utilize it easily.
“There have been calls to have the system abolished, but this is not my decision to make. It will come from the treasury, and still I don’t think it would be a good idea,” she remarked.
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“We need to automate the procurement system because it’s more efficient, and we need all the resources saved to do other activities,” added Nyakong’o.
However, Murang’a governor Irungu Kang’ata stated that ongoing delays in the disbursement of cash from the Exchequer continue to impede county operations.
This is despite legislative requirements that funds be released to counties by the 14th of each month.
“Timely release of the money will enable the counties to utilize it properly, especially in development projects which are geared towards improving the livelihood of the people,” Kanga’ata said.
“Submit Budgets On Time!” – CoB Nyakang’o Tells Counties
