MPs Move to Block Trans Nzoia County Funds Over Unpaid Gratuity
Trans Nzoia County could soon face a freeze on access to its funds after senators moved to block further withdrawals until Governor George Natembeya presents and implements a clear plan to settle unpaid gratuity owed to former county staff.
The warning was issued on Thursday, January 29, during a Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) session convened to review the 2024/25 audit report by the Office of the Auditor-General. The report flagged long-standing unpaid terminal benefits running into tens of millions of shillings, raising concerns over staff welfare and financial management within the county.
According to the Auditor-General’s findings, Trans Nzoia County owes a total of Ksh52 million in gratuity. Of this amount, Ksh26 million is owed to staff who served in the Office of the Governor during the tenure of former Governor Patrick Khaemba, while another Ksh26 million is owed to employees from various county departments who have since exited public service.
CPAC Chairperson Moses Kajwang told the meeting that the situation was unacceptable and warned that the Controller of Budget (CoB) should not authorise further withdrawals from the County Revenue Fund until the gratuity issue is conclusively addressed.
“We cannot continue approving withdrawals when former staff have waited for years to be paid what is rightfully theirs,” Kajwang said. “The Controller of Budget should not authorise any further spending until a clear, time-bound gratuity payment plan is presented and approved by this committee and the Auditor-General.”
Appearing before the committee, Governor Natembeya acknowledged that gratuity payments had not been made, attributing the delay to financial constraints and inherited liabilities from previous administrations. He told senators that unpaid statutory deductions had accumulated penalties and taxes, placing additional strain on the county’s finances.
“It is an unfortunate situation. I am alive to the fact that we are not paying the money. There is no malice; it is just circumstances,” Natembeya said, while insisting that the county was committed to resolving the issue.
However, senators dismissed the explanation, arguing that financial pressures could not justify withholding terminal benefits from former staff for years. Kajwang reminded the governor that gratuity is a legal entitlement, not a discretionary payment.
“Officers who have already exited public service are fully entitled to these payments. You must prioritise this debt,” he said.
“Gratuity is not a favour. It is a right earned through service, and the governor must provide a concrete and realistic plan to clear these arrears,” Cherarkey said.
The committee criticised Trans Nzoia County for delaying payment of terminal dues for more than four years, terming the situation unjustified and avoidable. Senators argued that internal inefficiencies and poor planning, rather than external factors, were largely to blame.
Lawmakers warned that if the Controller of Budget acts on CPAC’s recommendation, Trans Nzoia County’s access to funds could be effectively frozen, potentially affecting operations and service delivery. They cautioned that failure to comply with the committee’s directives could attract further sanctions and deepen financial uncertainty for the county.
In response, Governor Natembeya assured senators that his administration would allocate funds through a supplementary budget to clear the gratuity arrears. CPAC, however, maintained that close monitoring would continue to ensure the county follows through on its commitments.
The standoff highlights growing scrutiny over county financial management, with senators insisting that responsible governance and staff welfare must remain central to the use of public funds.
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MPs Move to Block Trans Nzoia County Funds Over Unpaid Gratuity
