MPs Raise Alarm Over Stalled Multi-Billion Government Projects

By Suleman Mbatiah

Members of Parliament have raised alarm over billions of shillings tied up in stalled government projects, warning that weak implementation is slowing development spending and undermining economic growth.

A report by the National Assembly’s Budget and Appropriations Committee says numerous government projects across ministries, departments and agencies remain incomplete or delayed despite large budget allocations.

The committee notes that funds already spent on stalled projects risk turning into sunk costs if implementation challenges are not addressed and projects are not completed within planned timelines.

“Despite the 2026 BPS prioritizing completion of ongoing projects, many verified pending bills remain stalled or delayed,” the committee said in its report on the Budget Policy Statement.

According to the report, several ministries and agencies continue to report delayed or stalled development projects even after significant amounts of public funds have been committed.

The committee warned that weak project execution continues to slow the pace of development spending despite increased budget allocations in recent financial years.

Lawmakers say the delays point to deeper structural weaknesses in planning, procurement and project management within government institutions.

The report notes that billions have been tied up in projects that remain incomplete, raising concerns about the efficiency of public spending and the government’s ability to deliver development programmes.

“Funds already spent on non-functional projects are effectively sunk costs providing no services or value for money,” the committee said.

Members also expressed concern that slow absorption of development funds has persisted despite increased allocations aimed at accelerating infrastructure expansion and economic growth.

The committee said stalled projects not only delay service delivery but also reduce the economic impact expected from development spending.

In some cases, projects that had already received funding remained idle or moved slowly, reducing the value of investments made with public resources.

The lawmakers urged the National Treasury and implementing agencies to strengthen project planning and oversight to ensure funds translate into tangible development outcomes.

“Persistently low absorption rates of development funds in recent years have slowed implementation and stalled progress on key projects,” the committee noted.

They also called for prioritisation of viable projects and completion of ongoing ones before launching new initiatives.

The committee said improved coordination between government agencies, stronger monitoring systems and timely procurement processes would help reduce project delays.

The findings come as the government plans to expand public spending in the upcoming financial year in an effort to stimulate economic growth and support key sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture and social services.

However, MPs warned that without stronger implementation frameworks, increased allocations alone may not translate into faster development or improved service delivery.