Senator Omtatah Accuses Counties of Hiding 90 Billion Shillings in Vague Budgets
Senator Okiya Omtatah has accused county governments of concealing over 90 billion shillings under ambiguous budget lines labeled “Other Operating Expenses.”
Speaking during the second reading of the County Allocation of Revenue Bill 2026 on June 18, Omtatah claimed that counties misuse this catch-all category despite having specific allocations for salaries, travel, maintenance, and other expenditures.
The outspoken senator argued that the practice enables massive misuse of public funds and undermines transparency in county spending. “I will substantiate how public money is being hidden and stolen in plain sight through budget lines labelled ‘Other Operating Expenses.’ Over 90 billion! If salaries, utilities, travel, maintenance, fuel, training, procurable items, and other expenditures already have specific vote heads, what exactly is hidden under this vague and ever-expanding category?” Omtatah questioned.
He further criticized what he termed as unconstitutional public borrowing by some counties, accusing them of spending billions without parliamentary approval.
“Even more troubling, the Constitution requires parliamentary approval for all public borrowing. Yet billions are spent under opaque budget lines that escape meaningful scrutiny,” he said.
Omtatah’s remarks sparked heated exchanges in the Senate chamber, with the legislator clashing with the Speaker after refusing to endorse what he described as a “scam.”
The debate comes amid the National Assembly’s push for the Finance Bill 2026, which proposes new tax measures, including hikes on digital services and rental income.
The proposals have drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders and civil society groups, who argue that the government is overburdening citizens while failing to curb corruption and wastage.
Omtatah’s revelations could intensify calls for stricter oversight of county budgets and greater accountability in public finance management as the country grapples with rising debt and economic strain.
