No value for public cash as multibillion projects stagnate

Worrying details have emerged about the multi-billion-shilling government-initiated development projects and programmes that have stalled across the country.

A new report has revealed how taxpayers’ money is being wasted on these projects, some of which were initiated more than 10 years ago by previous regimes.

Shedding light on the government’s cash crunch, the national government expenditure report for the first half of the financial year indicates the projects have stalled due to inconsistent or insufficient funding.

The government ministries, departments and agencies often undertake the projects.

However, some state agencies did not spend a penny on development during the entire six-month period.

“An analysis of the implementation of development projects by MDAs of the national government revealed a general delay in project implementation,” the report by Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o says.

The report lists several projects across all the MDAs valued at billions of shillings that have either stalled or fallen behind schedule.

Completion is in doubt in some cases.

In the State Department of Roads, the report lists 10 projects valued at more than Sh30 billion that have either stalled, fallen behind schedule, or whose completion is in doubt. In the sister Department of Transport, Nyakang’o listed another 10 projects valued at more than Sh70 billion whose completion is in doubt.

This is the case with the State Department of Lands and Physical Planning, where the CoB has listed 10 projects valued at more than Sh74.10 billion, whose completion is doubtful.

“An analysis of the project implementation status by the State Department for Lands and Physical Planning revealed general delay in projects implementation,” the report reads.

For instance, Kenya Affordable Housing Finance and Registration of Community Land, Isiolo South, projects did not record any expenditure in the first half of financial year 2024-25.

The geo-referencing land parcels project recorded a completion rate of 19 per cent, despite the project starting in July 2013.

In the State Department for Livestock Development, Nyakang’o listed 10 projects valued at Sh31.42 billion, whose completion is also problematic.

Out of the 10 projects, four are already behind their scheduled completion dates.

They are the Livestock Training Institute Mogotio (yet to start), Livestock Restocking in Baringo North (17 per cent complete), establishment of feedlots, fodder and pasture (27 per cent complete) and the Kenya commercialisation programme (29 per cent complete). In the State Department of Higher Education, Nyakang’o flagged 10 projects valued at Sh11.98 billion whose completion is doubtful.

“An analysis of the project implementation status shows delay in project implementation based on commencement date and expected date of completion against the completion rate,” the report reads.

In the State Department for Housing and Urban Development, the CoB listed 10 projects valued at more than Sh86.94 billion.

“An analysis of the project implementation status revealed the State Department for Housing and Urban Development spent on three projects only,” the report adds.

Projects that have stalled or whose completion are in doubt in the Roads department include the dualling of the Mombasa-Mariakani Road, which began in July 2023 and is expected to be completed in January next year.

However, the Sh10.33 billion project is only 24 per cent complete, and Sh2.48 billion already has been spent on it.

The report shows the Sh9.51 billion Wajir-Tarbaj road, which started in January 2023, is only nine per cent complete.

Its expected completion date is December next year.

To date, Sh903.4 million has been spent on the project.

The Mlango-Benon-State LodgeRiwo Pri-Store-Mto Mbili Road, whose construction began in April last year, is only seven per cent complete.

The project is supposed to be completed next month and has already consumed Sh60 million.

 The Chobe-Kambi George-Weru-Matundura and Muti-ini-Thindi road, whose construction started in April last year for Sh1.17 billion, is only nine per cent complete.

The project, which is supposed to be completed next month, has already consumed Sh100 million.

Other doubtful projects are the Tawa-Nguluni-Itangini road valued at Sh2.40 billion and the Eldas Township road valued at Sh516.83 million.

Some of the projects whose completion is in doubt in the Transport department include the revitalisation of the Leseru-Kitale MGR Branch for Sh.537.42 million.

The project is 75 per cent complete, despite the expected completion date being June last year. The revitalisation of the Kisumu-Butere MGR Branch line at Sh575.96 million has also stalled.

The project is 84 per cent complete but was expected to be completed last year. The project has already consumed Sh576 million.

The revitalisation of the Gilgil-Nyahururu MGR Branch line is also behind schedule.

The Sh1.13 billion project is 64 per cent complete. The expected completion date was June last year.

The Sh5.57 billion Nairobi Bus Rapid Transport Systems – BRT Line – that was supposed to be completed in June this year, is only 56 per cent complete. Some Sh1.15 billion has been spent on the project.

Others are the construction of a new 2.8-kilometre MGR link from Mombasa SGR Terminus- Miritini MGR station, and the railway bridge across Makupa Causeway (completion date June 30, 2024). Also listed is the construction of the Access Road to Suswa SGR Station and to Maai Mahiu SGR Station (completion date June 30, 2024).

“Measures should be taken to address the projects implementation challenges by the MDAs to fast-track the completion of all the affected multi-year projects whose completion rates are behind the target timelines,” Nyakang’o said in the report.

In the State Department of Housing and Urban Development, various Social and Physical Infrastructures under Slum Upgrading valued at Sh1.3 billion have stalled.

The project has consumed Sh650 million.

The State Department of Public Works has stalled the construction of the Kiwayu Seawall and Jetty for Sh250 million, the Olekasasi B Bridge for Sh15.8 million and the refurbishment of the regional works office in Kakamega.

The construction of the Kuloko-Masangara footbridge and the Lusheya-Lubinu footbridge for Sh14 million each, the Lusheya-Lubinu footbridge for Sh9 million and Akiriamet Masol footbridge for Sh16 million have all stagnated.

“An analysis of the projects the State Department for Public Works implemented indicated that no projects were funded during the first half of the financial year 2024-25,” the report reads.

The State Department for Information Communications Technology and Digital Economy Projects Implementation, Maintenance and Rehabilitation of NOFBI Phase II expansion for Sh11.98 billion has stalled.

The project, which has already cost Sh11.13 billion, was supposed to have been completed in December 2020.

Maintenance and Rehabilitation of NOFBI Phase II cable for Sh7.81 billion has stalled.

The project was supposed to have been completed in 2018. Connectivity to Leather Industrial Park-Kenaine (completion date 01/12/22) and Construction of KAIST at Konza Technopolis (completion date 31/12/24) were ongoing as of December 31, 2024, facing completion date overrun.

“The projects’ implementation status by the State Department revealed that four development projects had overstretched their target completion dates, implying delayed services to the targeted citizenry,” the report reads.

In the State Department for Energy, the Sh520 million Green Resilient and Expansion Energy Programme project, the Sh78 billion 300MW Suswa Geothermal project and the Sh4 billion Nuclear Power Plant Siting are behind their completion timelines.

In the State Department of Water and Sanitation, the Sh590 million Tana Water Works Development Agency is only 10 per cent complete.

The project is supposed to be completed in June this year

. “Analysis of project implementation status indicated a low implementation rate for most projects,” Nyakang’o said.

The Projects Status Analysis of the State Department for Wildlife showed that four projects are lagging behind their completion dates.

They include the rehabilitation of Research and Training Facilities in Naivasha Headquarters (54 per cent complete), Construction and Equipping of Four Research and Training Centres (78 per cent complete), National Integrated Wildlife Data Portal (27 per cent complete) and Combating Wildlife Crime in Kenya Programme Project-USAID II (14 per cent complete).