Sixteen law firms in Nakuru will gobble nearly half of Sh180 million as the county prepares to settle pending bills to suppliers and creditors this fiscal year
The county Treasury, in its debt management strategy paper submitted to the Nakuru County Assembly, indicates that it will pay law firms Sh85 million.
According to the details in the county 2020/2021 budget estimates table at the assembly on August 19, M.J. Okumu and Company Advocates will be paid Sh18.7million out of Sh40.6 million pending bill.
Odhiambo and Odhiambo Company Advocates will be paid Sh12.3 million out the Sh26.7 million it is owed by the county.
Rodi Orege and company Advocates will be paid Sh14.3 million out of Sh31.1million it is owed, while Munene Chege and Company Advocates get Sh12.2 million out of Sh26.5 million it is owed by the devolved unit.
Other law firms angling for payment include Prof M.N Wabwile and Company Advocates (Sh697, 180), Githiru, and Company Advocates (Sh5.9 million), A.N. Geke (Sh7.2 million), Obura Mbeche (Sh1 million), S.M. Chege and company Advocates (Sh132,736).
Others are Mirugi Kariuki and Company Advocates (Sh3.5 million), Momanyi and Company Advocates (Sh1.3million), S.O. Madialo and Company Advocates (Sh1.4million), Orina and Company Advocates (Sh1.5million), Musembi Ndolo and Company Advocates (Sh855,702), George K. Mwaura and Company Advocates (Sh728,871) and Konosi and Company Advocates (Sh2.3million).
The county is also expected to pay Union Technology Kenya Limited Sh18.4 million out of the Sh40 million it owes the company.
The rest of the suppliers and creditors who include contractors will also be paid their outstanding dues running into millions of shillings.
Contractors in the Infrastructure department will be paid more than Sh40million while Geomaps Limited will be paid Sh21.5million for developing a spatial plan for the county.
The county is struggling to clear pending bills amounting to Sh2.1 billion out of which Sh575.7 million was inherited from the four defunct local authorities namely Nakuru Municipal Council, Molo Town Council, Naivasha Town Council, and Nakuru County Council.
In its previous audit, the Office of the Auditor-General established that as of June 2018, the county ineligible bills stood at Sh2 billion.
Interestingly, the county pending bills committee established that projects amounting to Sh882 million had no budgetary provision including projects worth Sh562 million that had been completed and Sh319 million ongoing projects.
During the 56th Madarak Day celebrations, President Uhuru Kenyatta directed counties to settle all genuine pending bills before the end of the financial year 2018/2019.
Financial experts have warned that the pending bills will affect the county budget framework and slow down Governor Lee Kinyanjui Administration’s development agenda
