Budget Review: Committees Push for Extra Funding Across Key Sectors
Kareke Mbiuki, chair of the Tourism and Wildlife Committee, called for a detailed report on the Bomas International Convention Centre by 30th June 2025.
The Budget and Appropriations Committee, chaired by Samuel Atandi, continued its review of the 2025/26 Budget Estimates today. Photo/Parliament of Kenya.
By Robert Assad
The Budget and Appropriations Committee, chaired by MP Samuel Atandi, continued its review of the 2025/26 Budget Estimates today.
Several chairpersons of departmental committees presented funding proposals and adjustments for ministries, departments, and agencies under their oversight.
Defence, Intelligence, and Space Projects
Nelson Koech, chair of the Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations Committee, requested an additional Kshs. 4 billion for the Ministry of Defence.
The breakdown includes:Kshs. 2 billion for military recruitment. 1 billion for maintaining major assets and equipmentKshs. 500 million for the Kenya Space Agency’s Spaceport Project
Kshs. 500 million for equipping the Kenya Shipyards LimitedKoech also proposed an extra Kshs. 1 billion for recruitment activities under the National Intelligence Service (NIS).
Tourism Sector and Bomas Convention Centre
Kareke Mbiuki, chair of the Tourism and Wildlife Committee, called for a detailed report on the Bomas International Convention Centre by 30th June 2025.
The report should include total project costs, funding sources, and projected completion timelines.Mbiuki also proposed reallocating Kshs. 1.775 billion from the Tourism Department headquarters to implementation agencies due to higher-than-expected revenue collections.
Coffee Revitalisation and Cooperatives
Benard Shinali, leading the Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Committee, asked for Kshs. 1 billion to boost the national coffee revitalisation program through New KPCU.
The plan includes planting 20 million trees and tripling clean coffee output by 2028.He also requested Kshs. 500 million for revitalisation efforts and Kshs. 4.8 billion to cover coffee debt waivers.
Elections and Budget Rationalisation
George Murugara of the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee reported that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) plans to register 6.3 million new voters ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The IEBC has been allocated Kshs. 9.60 billion for operations and pre-election activities. Murugara suggested reducing Kshs. 300 million from the ICT unit’s budget to redirect funds to urgent electoral needs.
He stressed the importance of lowering election costs, with the 2027 poll projected to cost Kshs. 57.4 billion.The committee also received submissions from the Housing, Energy, and Transport Committees, as the budget review process intensifies.
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