NAIROBI, Kenya – A new report by the Controller of Budget (CoB), Margaret Nyakang’o, has revealed glaring inefficiencies in government spending, showing that billions of shillings have been used with little to show for it.
The findings, covering the first half of the 2024/25 financial year, paint a troubling picture of state departments spending massive sums with little tangible output.
Among the worst offenders is the State Department for Public Works, which spent Sh1.34 billion in six months but failed to produce any measurable results.
“This raises serious concerns about how the funds were utilized,” Nyakang’o noted in the report.
Similarly, the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services spent Sh12.66 billion, mostly on E-Citizen and immigration services.
However, its service delivery remained below 35 percent, highlighting a major gap between expenditure and output.
The State Department for East African Community (EAC) Affairs was also flagged for inconsistencies, with Nyakang’o pointing out that despite significant spending, there was “no change in actual service delivery.”
The CoB report underscores a broader trend of unchecked expenditure across state agencies, coming at a time when Kenyans are struggling with high taxes, a soaring cost of living, and persistent concerns over government accountability.
Nyakang’o is now calling for stricter budget oversight and a shift to results-based spending.
“The government must ensure continuous monitoring of budget implementation to align spending with tangible results,” she stated.
The revelations add to the growing discontent over inefficiency in public service.
A 2023 International Labour Organisation (ILO) ranking placed Kenya’s public sector productivity at 155 out of 189 countries, while the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has repeatedly warned about the consequences of poor performance in government.
