Members of Parliament, through the Budget and Appropriations Committee, have raised concerns about government ministries’ ability to effectively absorb increased funding, citing consistently low utilisation of development budgets.

In a statement posted on social media handles by the parliament on Monday, March 23, 2026, the Budget and Appropriations Committee, led by Samuel Atandi in a meeting with the chairpersons of the National Assembly Departmental Committees, has been vocal and cited the low absorption rates as having slowed down the realisation of key projects in the country, although the level of money injected is increasing with the Supplementary Estimates No. 1 of the 2025/26 financial year.

“The supplementary budget proposes an increase of Ksh316.7 billion, pushing the total national budget from Ksh4.3019 trillion to Ksh4.6186 trillion. The national government accounts for Ksh287.4 billion of the increase, while Ksh29.3 billion is allocated to Consolidated Fund Services,” the Parliament statement read in part.

During the meeting, the chairpersons of the National Assembly departmental committees presented and justified budgetary proposals for the ministries under their purview. Although the legislators noted that there are already some challenges, they were confident that the agencies have the potential to spend the extra allocations before the end of the financial year. They also pointed out loopholes in funding and demanded greater investment in sectors that are important.

The National Assembly has further noted that although the budget will be increased in general, certain sectors will undergo budget reductions. Ksh816 million will be saved in the State Department of Housing and Urban Development.

KNCHR and CAJ budget cuts

At the same time, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights and the Commission on Administration Justice will see their budgets cut by Ksh8.9 million and Ksh9 million, respectively. Ksh2 billion has also been reduced in the Emergency Chronic and Critical Illness Fund.

Lawmakers who were invited to the committee were John Kanyuthia Mutunga, Rindikiri Mugambi, Nelson Koech, Alice Ng’ang’a, James Nyikal, George Murugara and Ken Chonga.

The Budget and Appropriations Committee is anticipated to keep getting submissions by other departmental committees on March 24 as the supplementary budget is reviewed.