Governors have been cautioned against over-estimating their own-source revenue collection due to perennial failure to meet set targets.

The Senate County Public Accounts and Investments Committee said overestimation is the reason for high pending bills at the counties.

“This over estimating is clearly the root cause of the high pending bills being experienced in all our counties,” said Nyandarua Senator John Methu

The sentiments were triggered by the Auditor General’s Report on Nyeri County which set a target of one billion shillings for the 2019/2020 financial year but ended up collecting only 664.5 million shillings.

Governor Mutahi Kahiga who appeared before the Kajwang-led committee defended himself saying the estimates are given by the Controller of Budget.

Kahiga opined that demanding that residents pay higher taxes is akin to political suicide especially for first term governors. Many other counties also missed set targets.

“These targets put by the controller of budget which in my opinion are impossible to achieve because Governors have to balance between the political interests of their people and development,” Kahiga stated