This archive report was first published on 5 August 2019.
As the country marks another year since President Kenyatta's directive to settle pending bills, Kenya National Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) President Richard Ngatia has revealed that county governments owe contractors over Ksh.100 billion in unsettled debts.
Speaking in Kirinyaga County on Sunday, Mr. Ngatia noted that while the national government had paid its pending bills, most counties were yet to settle their debts to contractors for various projects and supply of items.
According to Mr. Ngatia, the directive for public institutions to settle pending bills was issued by President Kenyatta during this year's Madaraka Day celebrations, with a deadline of June 30, 2019.
President Kenyatta had stated, 'To alleviate this situation, I hereby direct that all Accounting Officers pay and settle all pending payments that do not have audit queries, on or before 30th June 2019. Further, I direct the National Treasury to secure full compliance of this directive. I also call upon County Governments to follow suit.'
Mr. Ngatia is now appealing to the Council of Governors to pay the outstanding bills to enable traders nationwide continue with their work.
He pointed out that some traders were depressed after their properties were auctioned by banks from which they had obtained loans.
