Committee Chairpersons cite budget cuts as major threat to project delivery

Committee Chairpersons cite budget cuts as major threat to project delivery

Friday, May 23, 2025

Committee Chairpersons have raised concerns over repeated and significant budget cuts, warning that they are undermining the implementation and completion of key government projects. The issue was highlighted during submissions on the 2025/2026 Budget Estimates to the Budget and Appropriations Committee.

The Chairperson of the Blue Economy, Water and Irrigation Committee Hon. Kangogo Bowen (Marakwet East), decried the sharp reductions in budget allocations to the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) under his purview.

"The State Department for Water and Sanitation has a reduction of Kshs. 1.96 billion in recurrent and Kshs. 8.4 billion in development expenditure; the State Department for Irrigation has a reduction of Kshs. 166 million in recurrent and Kshs. 2.19 billion in development; while the State Department for Blue Economy and Fisheries has a reduction of Kshs. 753 million and Kshs. 2 billion in recurrent and development expenditure respectively. This will ultimately affect critical ongoing projects," said Hon. Bowen.

Hon. Gabriel Tongoyo (Narok West), Chairperson of the Administration and Internal Security Committee requested additional funds to modernize the Government Printer, recruit 10,000 police constables, support ongoing security operations, and integrate village elders into the National Government Administrative Service framework.

Hon. Dan Wanyama (Webuye West), Chairperson of the Sports and Culture Committee, highlighted Kenya’s co-hosting of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with Uganda and Tanzania. He noted the absence of a budget provision for the Kshs. 3.9 billion (USD 30 million) hosting rights fee, due by April 2026.

He also proposed budget increases to improve sports infrastructure across constituencies and support various critical projects under his committee’s oversight.

Hon. Alice Ng'ang'a (Thika Town), Chairperson of the Social Protection Committee, appealed for Kshs. 250 million to the Child Welfare Society of Kenya to expand its emergency response, education support, family tracing, and reintegration services. She also requested an additional Kshs. 4.6 billion to commercialize the National Youth Service (NYS).

Hon. (Eng.) Vincent Musyoka (Mwala), Chairperson of the Environment, Forestry and Mining Committee, proposed an increase of Kshs. 200 million each for the Restoration of Wetlands and Degraded Ecosystems Project and the Forest Roads Project. He also recommended a Kshs. 400 million reductions in the Tree Growing Campaign and Rangeland Restoration Project, citing prioritization needs.

The Hon. Samuel Atandi-led Committee shall be receiving the remaining submissions next week.