Gender ministry faces Sh4.3bn shortfall amid rush to deliver Ruto's cultural agenda
Appearing before the National Assembly’s Sports and Culture Committee, Gender Cabinet Secretary Hanna Cheptumo said the ministry needs Sh3.05 billion to build and refurbish art and culture spaces across the country.
The Ministry of Gender, Culture, Arts and Heritage is facing a Sh4.3 billion shortfall as it rushes to implement key directives issued by President William Ruto for the 2025/26 financial year.
With no budget allocation in sight for most of the projects, top officials say they are struggling to meet the expectations placed on them.
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Gender Cabinet Secretary Hanna Cheptumo appeared before the National Assembly’s Sports and Culture Committee and said the ministry needs Sh3.05 billion to build and refurbish art and culture spaces across the country.
This includes theatres, music auditoriums and art galleries, in line with the President’s call to grow creative infrastructure.
Cheptumo told MPs that an additional Sh202 million is needed to expand the Ushanga Kenya Initiative from seven counties to ten.
The programme, which focuses on beadwork, was singled out by the President for expansion to boost its economic value and support local communities.
She also said the ministry needs Sh25 million to build a perimeter wall around the Gedi National Monument in Kilifi County, another project directed by the President.
Culture, Arts and Heritage Principal Secretary Ummi Bashir added that a further Sh150 million is needed for the creation of a licensing, monitoring, collection and distribution system for artist royalties through the Kenya Copyright Board.
“Some of the projects that are critical and have no allocation in the proposed financial year 2025/26 include Sh150 million for the establishment of a licensing, monitoring, collection and distribution system of royalties to artists under the Kenya Copyright Board,” she said.
Ummi also noted that the department’s ability to perform its duties is being held back by poor funding. She said they require Sh40 million to finalise the Kiswahili Bill and set up the National Kiswahili Council of Kenya.
She warned that unless urgent funds are provided, most of these presidential directives may stall, despite the ministry being tasked with national cultural growth and creative development.
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