NAIROBI, Kenya- Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to resolving high pending bills, which he believes are stifling the country’s economic growth.
Speaking at the 24th Ordinary Session of the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC) meeting held at his official residence in Karen, Gachagua highlighted recent strides made to clear outstanding bills and outlined the government’s roadmap for further improvements.
Gachagua revealed that the National Treasury had reduced the national government’s pending bills to Sh 516.27 billion as of June 30, 2024, down from Sh622.82 billion the previous year.
This reduction is part of a broader government initiative to stabilize the economy and improve fiscal discipline.
“The government’s effort to clear over KSh 100 billion in the last financial year is a testament to our dedication,” Gachagua stated. “We are committed to accelerating these efforts to ensure that outstanding bills do not cripple economic activities or derail our development agenda.”
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The Deputy President also called on county governments to step up their collaboration with the Controller of Budget to implement recommended measures.
He cited preliminary reports indicating a significant reduction in pending bills across 26 counties, from KSh 43.6 billion in 2023 to KSh 33.9 billion in 2024, as evidence of the effectiveness of these measures.
“We acknowledge this improvement,” Gachagua said, urging county officials to adopt a proactive stance. “By working closely with the Controller of Budget, we can streamline the budgetary process and further address the issue of pending bills.”
