Kenyan county governments are prioritizing recurrent expenditure, with nearly two-thirds of their budgets going to salaries and operations, leaving development projects significantly underfunded. This trend, highlighted in a Controller of Budget report, indicates billions of shillings in planned development remain stalled.

• Counties spent 65% (Sh259.57 billion) of their total expenditure on recurrent activities by March 31, 2026, with salaries alone accounting for Sh171.36 billion.
• The Controller of Budget, Margaret Nyakang’o, warned that delayed projects and weak financial controls are undermining service delivery.
• Counties are also burdened by pending bills totaling Sh156.84 billion, with Baringo County being among nine that spent less than 20% of their budgets on development.