Mwaka mpya: Top 10 counties with biggest cash received from Treasury in 2026/27

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

- The National Treasury released KSh 21.4 billion to all 47 counties in the first month of the 2026/27 financial year

- Nairobi City County received the largest share at KSh 1.105 billion, with Nakuru, Turkana, Kakamega, and Kiambu rounding out the top five

- The disbursements represent 5% of each county's annual allocation under the KSh 428 billion equitable share framework

Nairobi City County led all 47 devolved units in receiving the highest equitable share disbursement from the national government in July 2026, the first month of the new financial year, according to data published by the National Treasury.

A Gazette Notice containing the Statement of Actual Revenues and Net Exchequer Issues as at July 31, 2026, shows that the Treasury released a combined KSh 21.4 billion to county governments during the period.

The total annual equitable share allocation for the 2026/27 financial year stands at KSh 428 billion under the County Allocation of Revenue Act, 2025, with a further KSh 75.69 billion in additional allocations still pending parliamentary approval.

How Equitable Share Allocations Are Determined

The equitable share is anchored in Article 203 of the Constitution of Kenya, which guarantees county governments a portion of nationally raised revenue.

Each county's share is calculated using a formula that weighs population size, a basic share distributed equally to all counties, poverty levels, land area, and fiscal effort.

Counties channel these funds towards devolved services such as health facilities, rural road maintenance, water and sanitation, agricultural extension, and county administration.

The July disbursements, which represent 5% of each county's annual figure, give devolved units early working capital to begin executing their annual budgets.

Top Counties by Cash Released

Nairobi City County received KSh 1.105 billion in July, equivalent to 5% of its full-year allocation of KSh 22.11 billion.

As Kenya's capital and most populous urban centre, Nairobi's share is more than five times that of Lamu County, the lowest recipient at KSh 199.4 million, and nearly four times that of Tharaka-Nithi, which received KSh 261 million.

Nakuru County came in second with KSh 744.9 million released against an annual allocation of KSh 14.9 billion.

Turkana County followed closely with KSh 713.7 million from its KSh 14.27 billion annual share, a figure that reflects the government's additional weighting for arid and semi-arid land counties, where the cost of delivering services is considerably higher due to limited infrastructure.

Kakamega and Kiambu counties completed the top five, receiving KSh 703.3 million and KSh 675.5 million respectively.

Which counties received the biggest equitable share disbursements?

Rank | County | Total Cash Released (KSh) | Annual Allocation (KSh) |

1 | Nairobi City | 1,105,681,022 | 22,113,620,446 |

2 | Nakuru | 744,920,373 | 14,898,407,451 |

3 | Turkana | 713,730,799 | 14,274,615,988 |

4 | Kakamega | 703,267,603 | 14,065,352,057 |

5 | Kiambu | 675,471,879 | 13,509,437,587 |

6 | Kilifi | 658,766,730 | 13,175,334,595 |

7 | Mandera | 629,406,837 | 12,588,136,748 |

8 | Bungoma | 610,669,668 | 12,213,393,357 |

9 | Kitui | 592,572,023 | 11,851,440,460 |

10 | Meru | 544,839,575 | 10,896,791,506 |

At the lower end of the scale, Elgeyo-Marakwet County received KSh 284.7 million from an annual allocation of KSh 5.69 billion, while Taita-Taveta, Nyamira, and Isiolo also featured among the smallest recipients, consistent with their relatively smaller populations under the distribution formula.

A full list of all the counties and the amount of equitable share recevied can be accessed in the gazette notice no. 13169.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.