Senate, National Assembly review stalled projects, rising county bills

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Senate and National Assembly committees have raised concerns over stalled projects, unpaid bills, and government spending while reviewing the 2026 Budget Policy Statement.

The Senate Committee on Trade, Industrialisation and Tourism pointed out slow progress on farmer warehouses and delays in modernizing the National Cereals and Produce Board.

The Naivasha Special Economic Zone, expected to boost local businesses, is also behind schedule.

Ronald Ngala Utalii College is still 85 percent complete, more than ten years after construction started.

Pending bills in counties have risen to Sh176.9 billion. Nairobi County owes the largest share.

Counties, however, have collected more of their own revenue, which rose to Sh67.29 billion from Sh41.4 billion the previous year.

The budget plan aims to support agriculture, industry, and small businesses. The government plans to distribute sunflower seeds to farmers in 35 counties.

The Hustler Fund will expand to Sh100 billion.

Development hubs for small traders will be set up in all 47 counties. Coffee farmers will continue to benefit from the Direct Settlement System.

County Aggregation and Industrial Parks are being expanded, targeting full operation by 2027.  The tourism sector recorded 2.4 million arrivals and earnings of Sh452.2 billion in 2025.

A new National Tourism Policy (2025–2030) aims to make Kenya more competitive.

Separately, the National Assembly’s Committee on Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, chaired by Ikolomani MP Bernard Shinali, began reviewing the budget for ministries under its mandate.

Members quizzed the Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade, and Industry Lee Kinyanjui on his spending plan.

Mr Kinyanjui was joined by Principal Secretaries Abubakar Hassan (Investment Promotion) and Regina Ombam (Trade), along with senior officials from relevant state agencies.

Next week, the committee plans to meet CS Wycliffe Oparanya to review spending by the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSME Development.