Critical services at risk as Treasury fails to fund key departments

Essential services, including the issuance of passports and national identity cards, face disruptions due to a funding shortfall from the National Treasury.

Official records reveal that the Treasury did not allocate funds to 16 critical state departments by the end of the first quarter in September.

This has thrown numerous projects into disarray, especially as the national government's total development budget has been slashed from Sh459 billion to Sh351 billion.

The 16 affected departments had a combined development budget of Sh9.5 billion for the fiscal year ending in June 2025.

Notably, the Immigration and Citizen Services department was among those that did not receive any funding during this period.

This department had planned to spend Sh720 million on supplies for identity cards and Sh900 million on e-passport books.

As a result, delays in obtaining these essential documents are likely to worsen, compounding issues already experienced in recent months.

Other key departments, including Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development, were also left without funding for vital growth projects.

This jeopardises significant initiatives, such as the resilience and sustainable food systems project, estimated at Sh176 million, and a Sh1.28 billion program aimed at combating drought.

In addition to Immigration, departments such as Correctional Services, Higher Education, Public Works, Public Service, Culture and Heritage, Trade, and Wildlife received no development funding.

The National Police Service, State Law Office, Parliamentary Joint Services, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, Director of Public Prosecutions, National Gender and Equality Commission, and the Judiciary Fund were similarly affected.

The Judiciary, which anticipated spending Sh300 million on the automation of services and Sh35.4 million to refurbish the Supreme Court headquarters, has also been impacted.

The lack of funds for the Parliamentary Joint Services poses a risk to the planned construction of a multistory office block, budgeted at Sh358 million, and the installation of a Sh325 million security system.

Furthermore, public participation projects have been hindered due to insufficient funding from the Treasury.

This lack of financial support affects the State Departments for Public Works and Public Service, which had a combined budget of Sh207 million to implement public participation activities during the current fiscal year.

The ongoing funding crisis raises significant concerns about the future of these critical services and the government's ability to meet its commitments to the public.

As departments struggle to operate without the necessary funds, the implications for service delivery and public trust are profound.