Nominated Senator Isaac Mwaura. [Photo/ ebrutv.co.ke]
The Senate is seeking to introduce legislation that seeks to bar counties from borrowing loans domestically without the approval of the National Treasury.Nominated Senator Isaac Mwaura on Monday said the move aims at cutting down on the county debts at a time when the economy is struggling to raise development funds.Counties for the last five years the Senator said, have borrowed to the tune of Sh40 billion.“If the trend is not checked, it may cripple development especially in the countryside,” said Mwaura.President Uhuru Kenyatta recently instructed Senators to closely monitor county activities and ensure public funds expenditure at the devolved units focuses on development.Between 2013 and 2017 senators and governors were embroiled in a tag of war as the Senate accused county chiefs of being extravagant in spending. This they said slowed the uptake of funds in development as county employees spent most time flying out of the country for bonding meetings.Mwaura said a bill seeking to cap the borrowing may be tabled in February.The objective is to introduce the legislation before the reading of the 2018/2019 Budget.