Housing PS Hinga Seeks Sh4B Top-Up After Budget Cuts
The State Departments for Housing and Urban Development and Public Works are pleading for an additional Sh4 billion to help them deliver on their mandates after facing major budget cuts in the proposed 2025/26 financial year.
Appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works, the respective Permanent Secretaries expressed concern over inadequate funding, saying it could paralyze key projects and operations.
Housing PS Charles Hinga said that after settling mandatory expenses like utilities (Sh15 million), rent (Sh191.99 million), contracted guards and cleaners (Sh128 million), and the Nairobi Rivers Commission (Sh187 million), the department is left with only Sh99 million for all its other operations.
“This remaining amount is not enough to fund essential activities like monitoring and evaluating the affordable housing projects,” PS Hinga told the committee chaired by Emurua Dikirr MP Johanna Ng’eno.
He appealed for an additional Sh4 billion to support operations, maintenance, recruitment of 4,000 interns, and to monitor housing progress. He also requested Sh1.1 billion for the construction of the Kangundo Road–Ruai Market–Ruai Sewerage Link Road.
Public Works PS Joel Arumonyang also raised concern about ongoing in-year budget cuts, noting that both development and recurrent allocations have been affected. He requested Sh1.686 billion to keep the department running effectively.
According to PS Arumonyang, the additional funding includes Sh336 million for recurrent expenditure, Sh302 million for hiring technical officers across the 47 counties, Sh200 million to purchase vehicles, and Sh850 million for constructing footbridges, jetties, and sea walls.
During the session, MPs advised PS Hinga to include arbitration clauses in contracts with developers to avoid lengthy court battles.
The lawmakers also emphasized the urgent need to finalize regulations governing the Affordable Housing Program, saying lack of a legal framework could stall progress.
“Even if you try to fast-track the housing program, without regulations you won’t go anywhere,” said the committee’s vice-chairperson, Buuri MP Rindikiri Mugambi.
To resolve recurrent budget shortfalls in the Public Works Department, the committee agreed to convene a meeting with the National Treasury and relevant officials from the Public Works ministry.
MPs further advised PS Arumonyang to consider partnering with the Kenya Defence Forces to help in constructing small bridges.
Despite the requests for more funds, Committee Chairperson Johanna Ng’eno clarified that the committee has limited authority over government funding.
“This committee doesn’t have money to give. We can only propose reallocations of government spending—not Appropriations-in-Aid,” Ng’eno said.
The committee is expected to write and adopt its report on the 2025/26 Budget Estimates next week.