By Hellen Atieno
County governments have been urged to clear pending payments of retirement benefits owed to various pension schemes, as these constitute pending bills — a key parameter used in assessing eligibility for Kenya Devolution Support Programme (KDSP) II funds.
Speaking during the 15th LAPFUND Annual General Meeting held in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, Hon. Kizito Wangalwa, Director of Committees at the Council of Governors, who represented the Council’s CEO, Ms. Mary Mwiti, urged county governments to clear and remit all pension deductions currently in arrears. He noted that these arrears form part of pending bills, which KDSP II focuses on under Key Result Area 1, Disbursement Linked Indicator 4 (Participating counties that have prepared and are implementing action plans to reduce their stock of pending bills and maintain it at minimal levels). Clearing them is necessary to qualify for Level 2 Investment Grants to fund transformational projects.
On his part, LAPFUND Board of Trustees Chairman Hon. Johnson Osoi encouraged counties to remit the deductions promptly. He challenged them not to use delayed disbursement of funds from the National Treasury as an excuse for failing to meet these obligations. He acknowledged that late disbursement is a challenge but noted that the funds are eventually released by the end of the financial year.
Siaya County LAPFUND members were represented by a team comprising officials from the Directorate of Human Resource Management, the Office of the Governor, the Office of the County Secretary, and representatives from the county’s 10 departments.