A report has revealed how 21 governors sunk Sh4.21 billion into projects that have since stalled with just nine months left to the next General Election.
The new details are contained in Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang'o's latest county budget implementation report for the 2025/2026 financial year.
Governor Johnson Sakaja's Nairobi County has the highest number, with 57 stalled projects valued at Sh2.24 billion.
The projects initiated in the counties were aimed at transforming communities, but have since ground to a halt and turned to just monuments of unfinished promises.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja at his office in Nairobi.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
The revelations have now raised fresh concerns over wastage, weak oversight and the failure to deliver value for money under devolution.
With the country heading to a General Election in the next ten months, Governors now face pressure to prioritise completion and ensure public money delivers tangible results.
However, governance experts warn that most of the projects risk remaining stalled amid the election campaigns' pressure.
According to the report, the projects cut across key sectors such as health, education, water, infrastructure and agriculture.
They range from hospitals, roads, water projects, markets, social halls, offices, youth centres and Early Childhood Development Education facilities.
"Counties reported 189 stalled projects valued at Sh10.51 billion as at June 30, 2026.The devolved units had paid Sh4.21 billion towards the projects before they stalled," reads part of the report.
"Among the reported causes of stalling of projects included inadequate budgetary allocations, unresolved contract variations, contractor abandonment, contract termination, missing contract files and projects under investigation” Ms Nyakang’o said in the report.
The stalled-project crisis has exposed weaknesses in planning, funding and contract management in counties.
As at June 30,2026, Sh208.9 million had been paid to contractors of the stalled projects by Nairobi County, according to the CoB report.
“A review of the stalled projects revealed that Nairobi County recorded the highest number of stalled projects valued at Sh2.24 billion. At least 57 projects have stalled in the county. Nairobi County is followed by Isiolo, with seven projects valued at Sh1.77 billion stalled,” says the report.
At the Mbagathi Hospital in Nairobi County, residents were supposed to get a new medical block with outpatient, high-dependency and intensive care facilities.
However, the Sh 255.9 million facility is among 57 other projects in the county that have stalled, with nine months to the next General Election.
Expectant mothers from Umoja 1 and its neighbourhoods have also been waiting to enjoy services of a modern maternity wing at the Umoja 1 Heath Centre in Embakasi West.
Residents, who depend on Dandora Phase 1 Hospital, have also been waiting for a maternity facility that has stalled.
For residents of Mua in Machakos, the promise was a hospital close to home.
However, several years after the projects were launched, the buildings remain incomplete, contractors have walked away, and residents are still waiting.
Money was spent, structures have risen from the ground, but the facilities remain unavailable for public use, leaving the electorate frustrated.
Other counties with the highest number of stalled projects include: Kakamega which has 26 projects worth Sh848.95 million, Baringo with 23 projects valued at Sh163.32 million and Machakos, with 22 projects.
In Nairobi County, an audit revealed that residents who have been expecting better health services, safer trading spaces and facilities for empowerment of young people, the figures translate into daily frustrations.
For instance, a medical block at Mbagathi Hospital, valued at Sh255.87 million, was only 15 per cent complete.
Nairobi's Mbagathi Hospital.
At Mwiki, a Sh76 million social hall remains stalled after the contractor left the site because of non-payment.
In Dandora II, a youth complex valued at Sh50 million has stalled.
The rehabilitation of Makina market, estimated at Sh42 million, has similarly stalled because the contractor was not paid.
A medical block at Karen Health Centre had reached 75 per cent under a previous contract, but remains stalled.
Other projects worth millions of shillings have stalled in Embakasi South, Kibra, Woodley, Langata, Komarock, Kware, Kayole, Njiru, Ruai, California, Sarang'ombe, Kawangware, Huruma and Wetlands.
Despite the county spending Sh150 million on the Care Integrated County Revenue Management System/ERP project at City Hall, valued at Sh847.23 million, it was only 37 per cent complete.
The county attributed the problems to funding, procurement, contractor, land, design and legal issues.
Governor Benjamin Cheboi-led Baringo County reported 23 stalled projects valued at Sh163.32 million as of June 30,2026.
"The county had already paid Sh83.69 million, before the projects stalled," says part of the report. The stalling of the projects in the county was attributed to insecurity, non-payment of contractors, contract termination due to delays among other issues.
For instance, the stalling of the construction of a staff house at Sugut dispensary in Tirioko and a laboratory at Riongo dispensary in Silale were attributed to insecurity in the banditry-prone areas.
The two projects were valued at about Sh3 million. Other projects that have stalled in the county include; construction of the Mogotio information centre, construction of the Kipsaraman museum and several Early Childhood Development Education Centres (ECDEs) in Kabarnet, Eldama Ravine, Tirioko, Churo, Mogotio, Kolowa and Silale.
In Kakamega, 26 projects worth Sh848.95 million have stalled, with Sh218.98 million already paid.
"Several factors are attributed to the stalled projects. They include: delays in procurement processes, inadequate or delayed funding, delayed settlement of contractors' payments, poor project planning and design, delays in obtaining statutory and regulatory approvals, weak contract management, inadequate technical capacity and shifting political priorities ", says the report.
One of the projects that have stalled, is the Ingotse-Navakholo-Chebuyusi road, valued at Sh100 million.
Another road, Butali-Malekha, valued at Sh45 million, stalled after delayed payments.
Others are the Khwisero sub county offices, proposed construction of Kipkaren market and a water project in Yala Butwehe.
In Machakos, 22 projects have stalled, with Sh314.26 million already paid out of their total estimated value of Sh891.58 million.
They include a community hospital valued at Sh11.53 million in Mua and another health facility at Kwa Mwatu in Matuu, which stalled after the contractor walked away.
The county also has a Sh55.5 million commercial development project in Mua that was just 10 per cent complete when the contract was terminated over non-performance.
A community recreation centre worth Sh55.44 million suffered the same fate. In Nakuru, three projects worth Sh60.65 million have stalled after Sh40.93 million was paid.
A fish market in Naivasha, valued at Sh9.66 million, was 50 per cent complete when work ground to a halt.
In Nandi, six projects worth Sh23 million were reported as stalled.
The stalled Nandi County Governor’s office in Kapsabet town on March 15, 2018.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation Media Group
In Siaya, the county reported one stalled project valued at just Sh1.88 million, but the controller noted Sh3.72 million had been paid, resulting in an excess payment of Sh1.84 million.
Other counties with stalled projects include; Elgeyo Marakwet, Garissa, Kericho, Kiambu, Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu, Nyamira, Samburu, Tharaka Nithi, Turkana and Uasin Gishu.
Ms Nyakang’o cites inadequate or delayed funding, unresolved contract variations, contractor abandonment, contract termination, missing contract files and investigations as reasons for stalling of most projects.
Other problems include procurement delays, delayed payments, poor project planning and design, failure to obtain regulatory approvals and weak contract management.
"Other projects in various countries stalled due to shifting political priorities," states Ms Nyakang'o.
The Controller of Budget has recommended that counties prepare verified schedules of all stalled projects and develop time-bound recovery plans.
Ms Nyakang’o asked the devolved units to prioritise projects that can be completed and operationalised, allocate sufficient resources and resolve contractual disputes.
“Resolve contractual disputes promptly and in accordance with the law. Ring-fence projects under investigation and pursue appropriate recovery, enforcement, or corrective actions where loss or irregularity is established,” the report states.
