Meru County has been ranked second nationally in the absorption of development funds after attaining a 54 percent absorption rate, according to the Controller of Budget’s Third Quarter Report for the 2025/26 financial year.
The county trailed only Nandi County, which topped the list with a 55 percent absorption rate, while Wajir and Marsabit counties emerged third and fourth respectively.
The ranking comes amid growing political debate over the performance of Governor Mutuma M’Ethingia’s administration, with county officials citing the report as evidence of prudent management of public resources.
Reacting to the ranking, Governor Mutuma said the achievement reflected his administration’s commitment to directing public resources towards projects and investments that create lasting value for residents.
“Meru County has been ranked among the leading counties in Kenya in development budget absorption, attaining 54 percent according to the latest budget implementation report. This ranking reflects our commitment to directing public resources towards projects and investments that create lasting value for our people,” Mutuma said.
He added that his administration remained focused on accelerating development, improving service delivery and ensuring that every shilling allocated for development delivers tangible benefits to residents across the county.
During the State of the County scorecard presentation, County Executive Committee Member for Finance Monica Kathono said the county had maintained a healthy expenditure pattern while prioritising development and clearing inherited liabilities.
Kathono said Meru’s budget for the 2025/26 financial year stands at KSh15.1 billion, out of which the county had received KSh10.9 billion by May.
Of the funds received, Sh8.7 billion, representing 65 per cent of the budget, was allocated to recurrent expenditure, while the remaining 35 per cent was earmarked for development projects.
“So far, we have utilised Sh 6.8 billion on recurrent expenditure and absorbed Sh3 billion on development projects, bringing the overall absorption rate for both recurrent and development expenditure to 71 percent,” Kathono said.
She said the county inherited pending bills amounting to Sh1.8 billion, noting Governor Mutuma had allocated Sh1.1 billion towards settling the arrears in a bid to support contractors and restore confidence among suppliers.
Kathono added that the administration had also cleared salary delays that had persisted for three months during former Governor Kawira Mwangaza’s tenure and had paid all employees their dues up to May.
Kathono defended the county’s expenditure, insisting that strict oversight mechanisms existed to ensure public funds were spent lawfully.
“Let no one deceive the people of Meru because county funds cannot be used illegally. The Controller of Budget monitors and evaluates expenditure while the Auditor General reviews all spending against approved budgets,” she said.
She warned that misuse of public resources attracts sanctions from oversight agencies, including the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.
“We practise accountability and transparency in the management of public finances and remain committed to ensuring every shilling benefits the people of Meru,” Kathono said.
The finance executive noted that the health sector received the largest share of county resources, followed by roads, saying the funds had been utilised prudently to improve service delivery.
Edited by John Majau
