The government spent Kshs 1.64 trillion in the first half of the current financial year, according to a review of the budget by the office of the Controller of Budget.
- This represents 36.1 percent of the revised gross estimates of KSh4.54 trillion compared to Kshs.1. 44 trillion or 39.1 percent recorded in the first half of the 2022/23 fiscal year.
- The expenditure comprised ministerial development expenditure at KSh197.41 billion, recurrent ministerial expenditure at Kshs 752.92 billion and Consolidated Fund Services at KSh668.35 billion.
- Ministries, Departments and Government Agencies paid KSh29.69 billion in pending bills while subsidies totalled KSh 27.84 billion.
The highest Government development expenditure categories included capital transfers by Ministries, Departments, and Government Agencies in the form of subsidies, grants, or direct transfers to Semi-Autonomous Government Agencies (SAGAs) at KSh 156.87 billion, representing 79.5 percent of the gross development expenditure.
Other budget items were the Purchase of Specialised Plant, Equipment, and Machinery at KSh9.02 billion and the Construction and Civil Works at KSh7.25 million, representing 4.6 percent and 3.7 percent, respectively, of the gross development expenditure.
A review of the recurrent expenditure shows that KSh291.28 billion was spent on personnel emoluments and represents 38.6 percent of the gross recurrent expenditure by Ministries, Departments, and Government Agencies. This amount does not include personnel costs for the National Intelligence Service and the Military.
Pending Bills
The pending bills comprised of KSh 23.64 billion for recurrent and KSh 6.05 billion for development expenditure.
- State Corporations’ pending bills include payments due to contractors/projects, suppliers, unremitted statutory and other deductions, and pension arrears for Local Authorities Pension Trust.
- The highest percentage of the State Corporations’ pending bills (KSh209.42 billion as of 31st December 2023) was for Contractors/ Projects (Development).
- Further, the category of pending bills with the highest increase under State Corporations was the National Health Insurance Fund which increased by 155.9 per cent from KSh 33.89 million as of 30th June 2023 to KSh87.73 million as of 31st December 2023.
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