Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii on the Spot Over KSh15 Million Foreign Trip Amid Decline in County Revenue
The county achieved a development absorption rate of just 48.9 percent, meaning less than half of the planned infrastructure, health, and agricultural projects were completed.
Governor Jonathan Bii Uasin Gishu County.
Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii is on the spot after a report by the Office of the Controller of Budget (CoB) revealed that his administration spent close to KSh 15 million on a single trip to the United States, even as the county’s own-source revenue declined by nearly 5 percent during the 2024/2025 financial year.
According to the CoB’s 2024 County Budget Implementation Review Report, the county government spent KSh 14.49 million on one foreign trip and an additional KSh 353.41 million on domestic travel in May 2024 alone. The report flagged the expenditures as “excessive and questionable,” warning that such spending could amount to misuse of public funds.
“The high expenditure on both foreign and local travel is inconsistent with principles of prudent financial management,” the CoB noted in its findings published on cob.go.ke.
The revelations come at a time when the county’s own-source revenue — funds collected internally from business permits, parking fees, and land rates — dropped by 4.9 percent, threatening the sustainability of key development projects.
“This trend of declining local revenue and high recurrent spending undermines service delivery and long-term growth,” a senior budget analyst familiar with the CoB findings told Hubz Media.
Financial Mismanagement and Weak Controls
The CoB also raised concerns over weak financial accountability within the county. Two fund administrators reportedly failed to submit quarterly financial reports, a direct violation of the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act, 2012.
The report further revealed that some payroll operations were still being processed manually, a practice that exposes public funds to fraud and inefficiency.
“Manual payroll systems and unreported administrative costs continue to create loopholes for possible misuse of county resources,” the CoB warned.
Low Development Spending
During the 2023/24 fiscal year, Uasin Gishu implemented a revised budget of KSh 13.29 billion but underspent by KSh 3.03 billion. The county achieved a development absorption rate of just 48.9 percent, meaning less than half of the planned infrastructure, health, and agricultural projects were completed.
In the 2024/25 Programme-Based Budget (PBB), the county allocated KSh 12.15 billion, a slight decrease from the previous year, with a focus on Governor Bii’s “Nguzo Kumi” agenda, which prioritizes healthcare, water, agriculture, and road infrastructure.
Public Outcry
The report has triggered outrage among residents and accountability groups, who are demanding explanations from the county leadership.
“Lavish trips and ballooning travel budgets are unacceptable when hospitals lack medicine and youth projects stall,” said an Eldoret-based governance activist . “The Controller of Budget has sounded the alarm — now oversight agencies must act.”
As of publication, the Uasin Gishu County Government had not issued an official statement in response to the CoB report.
The Office of the Controller of Budget is a constitutional office established under Article 228 of the Kenyan Constitution, tasked with overseeing the implementation of national and county budgets. The office monitors how public funds are spent and ensures expenditures align with the law and approved budgets.
The CoB’s latest findings highlight a recurring challenge across several counties — high administrative costs and travel allowances that drain resources meant for development
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