Friday, 7 March, 2025
Transport Committee urged to consider additional funding to Roads Ministry amid budget constraints and huge portfolio of projects๐๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ก ๐, ๐๐๐๐
Transport and Roads CS David Chirchir has appealed for additional funding to enable the Ministry effectively implement the government's Bottom up Agenda amidst the hard economic time that has hampered the implementation of some of the governmentโs plans.
The CS who was acompanied by the Principal Secretaries of Roads Eng. Joseph Mbugua and his counterpart for the State Department of Transport Mohammed Dagaar, made the appeal when he presented his submissions on the FY 2024/25 Supplementary Estimates II to the Committee on Transport and Infrastructure chaired by Ndia MP, Hon. George Kariuki.
CS Chirchir pointed out that the constrained budget ceilings as compared to the Ministryโs huge portfolio of projects has resulted into a thin spread of budget allocations in an effort to cover all the ongoing projects.
He however expressed concern that the thin spread had resulted into immaterial allocations to projects that cannot finance any credible output.
On his part, PS Dagaar in his presentation informed Members of some funding gaps for consideration to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the planned output for the FY 2024/25.
The PS made a request for additional funding to the tune of Kshs.2.9 billion; Kshs.21.2 million being deficit under Contracted Guards and Cleaning Services, Kshs.25.3 million for installation of lifts(Refurbishment of Transcom), Kshs.35 million for upgrade of ICT Infrastructure and Kshs.36.8 million for Operations and Maintenance Expenses.
In addition, PS Dagaar told the Committee that the Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (NAMATA) requires Kshs.2.5 billion for the completion of BRT line two (Simba Line), and Kshs. 279 million for recruitment of additional staff.
"We also wish to request for RDLF AIA adjustment by Kshs. 29.7 billion to cater for SGR Loan repayment of Kshs. 25 billion and Kshs.4.7 billion for development of SGR phase 2B and 2C and enhance operations and maintenanceโ, PS Dagaar submitted.
Members however sought to know from the CS why the State Department for Roads had a number of projects budgets scaled down to zero. They cited cases of a number of critical roads that had been onboarded through the intervention of National Assembly, as well as Donor funded projects especially those under the Horn of Africa Gate Way Development projects (Isiolo - Wajir - Mandera Road)
In response, the CS informed the lawmakers that based on the approved budget, and while taking into consideration of the thin spread, the Ministry would apply the exchequer as per the approved budget.
He told the Committee the current fiscal headroom had resulted into a scenario where the Ministry uptake of the budget is high, but with little output to show against the released exchequer since most contractors were hesitant to go back to work with the little funds allocated to their projects.
To address this unfortunate situation and to atleast ensure some contractors go back to site, the Ministry reported that they had requested to get an additional provision of Kshs. 12 billion in advance of appropriation, under Article 223 of the Constitution.
The strategy was to allocate substantial amounts to select projects without reallocating what had already been approved by Parliament.
According to CS Chirchir, the targeted substantial amounts and concurrent exchequer releases had helped the State Department of Roads achieve some milestones, which it could not have achieved.
He cited a case whereby out of the approved Kshs. 12 billion, the State Department had allocated Kshs. 220 million for the completion of Kangemi Bridge on the Junction James Gichuru โ Rironi Road Project, which if they were to rely on the approved estimates would not have been achieved.
The CS in his conclusion called for a continued collaboration with the Committee, in acknowledgment of their critical role in ensuring that adequate resources are allocated to the roads and transport sector.
Turning to the State Department of Maritime Affairs, the Principal Secretary, Mr. Geoffrey Kaituko told the Committee that status quo had remained, adding that the Department had continued to face a lot of operational challenges due to budget constraints. He urged for the Committeeโs intervention.
The Members however called on the PS to be more proactive and come up with a proposal based on tangible facts and figures which the Committee can make reference to justify the case for additional allocation.