Nairobi, Feb. 1 -- The State will partly use a mini-budget planned for March to pay contractors amid renewed efforts to settle the more than Sh630 billion worth of pending bills to ease cash-flow woes among businesses.

Treasury PS Chris Kiptoo said on Wednesday the committee tasked with verifying the bills will present the first list of claims by mid-March, paving the way for including the dues in the supplementary budget.

Firms that delivered goods or services to State agencies and ministries have been grappling with cash flows caused by non-payment of the cash, triggering an uproar among the business community.

State entities owed firms and contractors Sh631.56 billion as of last September, with the bigger chunk of Sh509.37 billion o...