Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko has pointed a finger at the national government, blaming delays in budget approvals for the growing salary arrears affecting workers in 21 counties across Kenya.
According to Ayacko, the slow disbursement of funds and bureaucratic bottlenecks in the approval process have left county governments struggling to meet their payroll obligations, leaving thousands of public servants without pay for months.
This is not a new problem; it is a festering wound that has plagued devolution since its inception. When counties took over key functions in 2013, they inherited a system that was not ready, with many lacking proper human resource structures and payroll management systems, leading to salary delays, payroll inconsistencies, and even mass resignations of health workers who were left in limbo.
The governor's remarks have ignited a fierce debate about the health of Kenya's devolved system of government. Critics argue that while budget delays are a factor, they do not fully explain the chronic mismanagement and corruption that have blighted many county administrations.
Some counties have been accused of prioritizing political expenditure over staff welfare, inflating budgets, and failing to generate sufficient own-source revenue to cushion themselves from national government delays. Others point out that the national Treasury has often cited incomplete documentation or non-compliance with financial regulations as reasons for withholding funds, suggesting that the problem is not just about slow approvals but also about county-level incompetence.
Ayacko's warning should be a wake-up call: if the national and county governments cannot resolve this impasse, the consequences will be devastating. Unpaid workers will down tools, essential services will grind to a halt, and the citizens who depend on these services will be the ultimate losers. The time for blame games is over; the time for urgent, honest, and practical solutions is now.
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