Dead on Arrival! How Nakuru’s Development Budget Absorption is Hitting Rock Bottom
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Nakuru County’s first-quarter budget performance for FY 2024/25 is nothing short of embarrassing.
While leaders boast about “plans and priorities,” the numbers tell a grim story of stagnation, inefficiency, and outright neglect.
With a development absorption rate of just 0.4%, it’s clear that Nakuru County is doing little more than spinning its wheels in the mud.
Money Earmarked, Projects Ignored
Out of a development budget of Kshs. 6.99 billion, only Kshs. 31.29 million was spent. Yes, you read that right—a paltry 0.4%. This is not just a failure of governance; it’s a slap in the face to Nakuru’s residents, who desperately need better roads, schools, and hospitals.
Take the county’s health facilities as an example. While residents endure substandard services, only 6% of the budget for purchasing medical equipment has been spent.
Rehabilitation of health facilities fared even worse, with a shocking 3% of the allocated funds utilized.
These are not just statistics; they represent missed opportunities to improve lives and livelihoods.
What’s the Excuse This Time?
County officials have, predictably, pointed fingers at everyone but themselves. “Delayed disbursements,” “technical challenges,” and “staffing issues” top the list of excuses.
Yet, these same officials had no problem burning through Kshs. 1.72 billion in salaries and benefits for county employees.
Evidently, paying themselves takes precedence over serving the people.
High Salaries, Low Performance
The wage bill consumed a staggering 67% of the county’s revenue in the first quarter.
Meanwhile, development projects are left starving for funds. It’s a glaring contradiction: a government that claims to work for the people but spends more on maintaining its bloated bureaucracy than on improving public infrastructure.
Pending Bills and Broken Promises
The backlog of unpaid bills in Nakuru County sits at Kshs. 1.50 billion. Contractors are left in financial limbo while the county prioritizes recurrent expenditure. This lack of accountability not only damages the county’s reputation but also chokes economic activity, leaving local businesses struggling to stay afloat.
Development by Name Only
Absorption rates are a key measure of a government’s ability to implement its projects. With only 0.4% of the development budget utilized, Nakuru County is effectively saying it can’t—or won’t—deliver on its promises. This level of ineptitude raises serious questions about the leadership’s competence and commitment to progress.
Can the County just Start projects on time and ensure allocated funds are used effectively, Simplify processes that delay the rollout of development initiatives, Focus on high-impact projects like healthcare, education, and infrastructure, or is that big to ask?
Nakuru County’s abysmal absorption rate is not just a statistic it’s a tragedy for its people. Behind the figures are stalled projects, wasted opportunities, and a leadership that seems out of touch with the needs of its residents.
If Nakuru’s leaders cannot spend the money they’ve budgeted for, they must be held accountable. Otherwise, the county will remain stuck in a cycle of broken promises and squandered potential.
For now, Nakuru County’s development budget is nothing more than a paper promise—and the residents are left paying the price.
Nakuru Times Reporter
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