Controller of Budget report flags widespread delays in government projects, weak target monitoring

Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o has flagged widespread delays in the implementation of government projects across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

In her latest Budget Implementation Review Report for the 2024/25 financial year, Nyakang’o highlights the negative impact of the delays on both service delivery and economic efficiency.

“A review of MDAs’ projects’ performance indicated general delays in project implementation, which affected their completion rates,” the report reads.

The review reveals that numerous infrastructure projects have fallen behind schedule, with some significantly exceeding their intended completion dates.

It cites two major road projects under the State Department for Roads that commenced in April 2024 but are significantly behind schedule.

First, is the Mlango-Benon-State Lodge-Sach 3 – Riwo Pri – Store – Mto Mbili Road in Trans-Nzoia County, which is only 18 per cent complete.

The other is the Chobe - Kambi George - Weru - Matundura & Muti-ini – Thindi Road in Nyandarua County, which is progressing even more slowly, with just 13 per cent completion.

Both projects were scheduled for completion by April 2025.

According to Nyakang’o, delays are not limited to roads alone.

The State Department for Basic Education’s countrywide initiative to construct junior secondary classrooms and integrated resource centres has also seen sluggish progress.

Although the project began in July 2021 and is scheduled for completion by June 2026, only 21 per cent of the work had been completed by the end of June this year.

Even more concerning are the performance issues at the State Department for Transport, where the report highlights four high-priority infrastructure projects that missed their scheduled completion dates.

These include the development of Nairobi Railway City (completion date of June 30, 2023), the Construction of a 2.8 km new MGR link from Mombasa SGR Terminus - Miritini SGR station and a railway bridge across Makupa causeway (completion date of June 30, 2024).

Revitalisation of Gilgil - Nyahururu MGR Branch line (completion date of June 30, 2024), and the Construction of Access Road to the Suswa and to Maai Mahiu SGR Stations (completion date of June 30, 2024) are further projects that have surpassed their completion timelines.

The report also sheds light on broader financial management issues affecting project delivery.

Other Topics To Read

• Headlines
• National
• Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang'o
• stalled projects
• Controller of Budget counties
• Office of the Controller of Budget
• government stalled projects
• stalled public projects
• delayed projects
• Controller of Budget report flags widespread delays in government projects
• weak target monitoring

A major bottleneck is the accumulation of pending bills, which hit a staggering Sh524.84 billion by June 2025, compared to Sh516.27 billion reported as of June 30, 2024, representing a 1.7 per cent rise.

This comprised Sh404.33 billion (77.09 per cent) for State Corporations and Sh120.51 billion (22.90 per cent) for MDAs.

Nyakang’o says this cash flow constraint has severely disrupted operations, particularly hurting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that rely on timely government payments for survival.

“Other key issues identified were the delay in implementing the Equalisation Fund projects and weak monitoring of yearly targets,” the report adds.

In response to these issues, the CoB has issued a set of recommendations aimed at improving fiscal discipline and project efficiency.

These include prioritising the completion of ongoing multi-year projects before launching new ones, accelerating the settlement of pending bills, and ensuring budget revisions reflect actual expenditures.

Moreover, the report calls for enhanced monitoring of yearly targets and faster implementation of Equalisation Fund projects to ensure that marginalised areas receive timely development support.