County governments' pending bills remain a major concern despite a decline in the latest reporting period, highlighting persistent financial management challenges at the devolved units.
Data from the Controller of Budget shows that outstanding county bills stood at Sh163.74 billion as of December 2025.
While this represents a drop from the record Sh182.13 billion reported in December 2024, the figure remains significantly higher than previous years.
In December 2021, counties owed suppliers, contractors and other service providers Sh128.94 billion.
The amount rose sharply to Sh159.94 billion in December 2022 before easing slightly to Sh156.34 billion in December 2023.
The latest figures indicate that pending bills have increased by Sh34.8 billion over the five-year period.
The accumulation of unpaid bills has long been cited as a major obstacle to service delivery and business growth, with suppliers often forced to wait months or years for payment.
Experts argue that reducing pending bills is crucial for improving fiscal discipline, restoring confidence among contractors and ensuring counties can efficiently deliver services to residents.
The trend underscores the need for stronger financial controls and timely settlement of obligations.
