Kenyan counties are prioritizing recurrent expenses, such as salaries and allowances, over development projects. This trend is highlighted in a recent Controller of Budget report, revealing substantial spending on personnel while critical infrastructure remains incomplete.

• Counties spent approximately 65% of their annual budget (Sh259.57 billion) on employee compensation and operations, with salaries and wages alone accounting for Sh171.36 billion.
• The Controller of Budget, Margaret Nyakang’o, has urged county governments to prioritize stalled projects and reallocate adequate resources for their completion.
• A significant number of counties, including Baringo, spent less than 20% of their budget on development, leading to 237 stalled projects valued at Sh8.55 billion.