Across Kenya’s devolved units, billions of shillings have been sunk into ambitious development projects that were meant to transform lives. But years later, many have stalled, are rebranded, underused, or completely idle.
From half-finished governors’ offices and white elephant modern markets to empty hospitals, tourism facilities and abandoned stadiums, a clear pattern is emerging across counties — political transitions disrupt project continuity.
Each new administration arrives with fresh priorities, often altering or abandoning inherited projects altogether, leaving billions of shillings locked in stalled infrastructure.
The Auditor-General’s reports and county records now paint a troubling picture of political transitions quietly becoming one of the biggest risks to public investment, with taxpayers footing the bill for projects that never fully deliver.
From Nandi to Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Baringo and Turkana counties in the North Rift, to the Mt Kenya region and the Coast, audit reports expose how leadership changes, political rivalries and shifting priorities have locked billions of shillings in unfinished or underutilised projects, raising hard questions about the value lost each time political leadership changes hands.
In Nandi County, a Sh103 million governor’s office initiated in 2013 under former Governor Cleophas Lagat (2013-2017) remains incomplete more than a decade later. Despite additional allocations, including Sh55 million in the 2018/2019 financial year, the structure, now nearing Sh150 million in cost, is only recently approaching completion under Governor Stephen Sang’s administration, which assumed office in 2017.
In the neighbouring Uasin Gishu County, another high-profile project, the Sh1.16 billion 64 Stadium in Eldoret, has become a national talking point. The project which was launched under former Governor Jackson Mandago (2013-2022), now Uasin Gishu senator, the stadium stalled after World Bank funding was cut, and subsequent county allocations failed to complete it.
The project has since been handed over to the Ministry of Defence for completion, with State Department of Defence Principal Secretary Patrick Mariru stating that the national government will now oversee its revival.
“We are committed to completing the construction of this stadium in the next six months after contracting the Kenya Defence Forces to do the work,” said Mr Mariru during a site visit.
But even as the national government steps in, the Senate Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has flagged the project among those warranting investigation by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over alleged misappropriation and weak oversight. PAC Chairperson and Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang has warned that taxpayers may not be getting value for money.
Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii, however, said development is continuous and inherited projects must be completed.
“Public resources were invested in these projects, and our people deserve to realise value for their money,” he said.
There has been intensified political tension between him and Senator Mandago, who has criticised the county leadership for failing to complete health facilities initiated during his tenure, including Ziwa Level 5, Tiret Level 4 and Kesses Level 4 hospitals.
In Trans Nzoia County, the story is similar. The Sh1 billion Masinde Muliro Modern Market in Kitale remains largely unused years after its launch under former Governor Patrick Khaemba (2013-2022), while a referral hospital project inherited by Governor George Natembeya has also stalled amid funding and administrative disputes.
Governor Natembeya, who took over in 2022, has expressed frustration over the situation, saying millions of shillings were invested, but key facilities remain incomplete. The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Trans Nzoia Chairman Titus Kilong’i said delayed projects are hurting business growth.
“We cannot have value for money if projects are not done within timelines,” he said.
In Baringo County, the pattern is the same. Here, the consequences of stalled or idle projects are most visible in the health sector. More than 45 dispensaries and health centres built during the early years of devolution, many initiated under Governor Benjamin Cheboi’s first term, remain underutilised or completely idle. Mr Cheboi was elected between 2013 and 2017 before he lost elections, then returned in 2022.
Facilities such as Toplen Health Centre in Silale Ward and Keriwok Dispensary in Tangulbei/Korossi Ward were completed years ago but remain non-operational due to staffing and funding gaps. Others, including Nasorot and several facilities across Tiaty Sub-county, are structurally complete but unused. Residents say the result is devastating.
County officials, however, maintain that limited resources and staffing challenges make full operationalisation difficult.
The pattern is echoed across the far-flung Turkana County, where two Sh70 million eco-lodges launched in 2014 during the tenure of Governor Josphat Nanok remain incomplete more than a decade later. One at Lokitoe Ang’aberu in Turkana North is now deteriorating due to vandalism and environmental threats from the rising waters of Lake Turkana, while another in Kainuk was abandoned amid insecurity and funding shifts.
In Bomet County, the Bomet Stadium project has been abandoned since 2018, despite more than Sh300 million being spent on it.
Main dais at Bomet IAAF Stadium where construction work has stalled.
Photo credit: Vitalis Kimutai | Nation Media Group
The stadium was started during Governor Isaac Ruto’s administration (2013-2017), but was subsequently starved of funding during the administrations of his successor, Dr Joyce Laboso, who died in 2019, and the current Governor, Hillary Barchok.
Mr Ruto, a former Council of Governors chairman, was defeated in the 2017 election by Dr Laboso, who was succeeded by her former deputy, Professor Barchok, after she succumbed to cancer.
Dr Laboso had indicated that she would complete the project and allocated Sh15 million in the 2018/2019 financial year, but Prof Barchok subsequently denied it funding altogether.
On January 15, 2023, President William Ruto directed the Ministry of Sports to take over construction of the stadium and complete it within one year, but the directive was not implemented.
On the other hand, the national government has begun the construction of the Sh950 million Kipchamba Stadium at Kipranye village in Kyogong, on the outskirts of Bomet town. As a result, the Bomet IAAF Stadium has become a white elephant.
An artist's impression of the Kipchamba Stadium in Bomet which is being constructed at a cost of Sh950 million.
Photo credit: Vitalis Kimutai | Nation Media Group
Other affected projects include the construction and rehabilitation of 10 roads to bitumen standards and murram roads at a cost of Sh632 million, as well as the completion of several health facilities, including Lolgorian Level Four Hospital, whose expansion works began in 2022.
In Nakuru County, the Auditor-General’s report shows that 112 projects worth Sh1.8 billion had their completion timelines extended, while others worth Sh159 million have stalled.
“Contracts of 57 projects worth Sh138 million were awarded to various contractors during the year under review, but had not started by the time the audit was conducted,” the report states.
Among the projects are: the outpatient blocks at Njoro Level Four Hospital and Olenguruone Sub-County Hospital, the establishment of the Sh122 million High Altitude Athletics Training Facility in Keringet Ward, inpatient and outpatient blocks at Maai Mahiu Level Four Hospital, and the construction of an outpatient block at Molo Level Four Hospital.
In Trans Nzoia County, construction of the Sh1.6 billion Wamalwa Kijana Teaching and Referral Hospital, which started during former Governor Patrick Khaemba’s term, remains unfinished.
In Kericho County, the construction of a theatre at Ainamoi Sub-County Hospital, valued at Sh14.1 million, remains incomplete six years after the scheduled completion date.
In Taita-Taveta County, some of the most ambitious projects launched since the advent of devolution now stand as stark reminders of the gap between public investment and actual returns.
From the proposed county headquarters at Mgeno in Mwatate to the Sh320 million Maungu lorry park along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway, questions are emerging over governance, accountability and whether taxpayers are getting value for money.
The concerns come at a time when the Auditor-General’s report on the county executive of Taita-Taveta for the 2024/2025 financial year issued a qualified opinion, highlighting weaknesses in financial management, governance and compliance with public finance regulations.
Long-distance truck drivers at Maungu Lorry Park wait to check in at a roadside station before resuming their journey to deliver cargo from the Port of Mombasa on September 29, 2022.
Photo credit: Wachira Mwangi | Nation Media Group
Along the busy Northern Corridor, thousands of trucks carrying cargo from the Port of Mombasa to destinations across East and Central Africa pass through Taita-Taveta every day. It is here that the Maungu lorry park was envisioned as a transformative investment.
Constructed at a cost of more than Sh320 million by the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority and officially opened in 2015, the facility was designed to accommodate 182 trucks, provide 70 guest rooms and host 24 commercial stalls.
County leaders expected it to become a major logistics hub, create jobs, stimulate local businesses and generate substantial own-source revenue. However, today, that vision remains largely unrealised.
Taita-Taveta County Assembly Trade Committee Vice-Chairperson Stephen Nzai believes the facility still holds enormous potential.
“The county government has not been meeting its revenue collection targets. If this facility is revived and managed properly, it can significantly boost county revenue,” he said.
Yet years after concerns were first raised, little appears to have changed. Equally concerning is the fate of the meat processing facility proposed during the second county administration. The project was expected to create employment opportunities, support livestock farmers and establish a value-addition chain for meat products within the county.
Years later, the facility is incomplete and abandoned. The structures now stand as silent monuments to unfulfilled promises.
They included pending bills worth Sh3 billion, statutory deductions debt of about Sh1 billion, salary arrears and stalled projects.
Dr Kang’ata says he saw no sense in abandoning inherited obligations and starting new projects, as Murang’a residents would end up being the losers.
“What we did was order an audit of all the liabilities we had inherited. Some of the debts were genuine, others were not. Some of the stalled projects were good, but others needed restructuring to conform to the transformation agenda,” he said.
For example, Murang’a County Creameries was started in 2018 at a cost of Sh5 billion--inclusive of land valuation, machinery and stimulus budgets in the value chain—by pioneer Governor Mwangi wa Iria.
It was projected to increase farm gate prices of a litre of milk from Sh20 to Sh65 by 2027, as well as contribute Sh1 billion per year to the Murang'a County Government by 2035. Dr Kang'ata found the plant dead in 2022 and allocated it a Sh400 million budget to jumpstart the project.
The situation in Isiolo County stands out even more. There is an abandoned market construction, county government headquarters and county assembly chambers, all valued at more than Sh1.5 billion. Isiolo is also home to an idle international airport and the stalled abattoir, whose construction began 17 years ago. The auditor has raised concerns over these projects.
According to the Isiolo County Executive audit report for the 2024/2025 financial year, Auditor-General Gathungu highlighted several projects that have stalled since 2018 during Governor Mohamed Abdi Kuti’s term (2017-2022).
Construction of Isiolo Stadium, which was to cost Sh345.9 million, started in May 2019 and was expected to be completed in December 2020.
Isiolo stadium in this photo taken on April 11, 2021.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
“However, as of June 30, 2022, the project had stalled following its suspension to pave the way for investigations. By the time of suspension, the contractor had been paid Sh231.6 million, representing 66.9 per cent of the contract amount. Physical inspection conducted on August 11, 2025, confirmed that no construction activities were ongoing and the contractor was not on site. The project, therefore, remains incomplete, with no evidence of resumption of works,” the audit report states.
Isiolo town modern market in this photo taken on April 11, 2021.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
“A total amount of Sh366.6 million had been paid to the contractor, and a progress report indicated 80 per cent completion. Physical inspection conducted on August 11, 2025, more than seven years after the contract was signed, revealed that the project remained incomplete, with no construction activities underway and the contractor absent from the site,” the auditor states.
About one kilometre away is the county headquarters project, whose construction commenced in March 2019 at a cost of Sh556.9 million.
The project was initially being undertaken jointly with the national government before the Isiolo County Government took over in April 2024, promising completion by December 2024.
Isiolo is among six counties that received Sh2.5 billion from the Exchequer in the 2023/2024 financial year to complete stalled county headquarters projects.
Despite Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya announcing in May 2025 that the national government would take over the Isiolo Stadium project, no work has resumed.
“Physical verification conducted on August 11, 2025, revealed that no construction activities were ongoing and the contractor was not on site,” Ms Gathungu notes.
The Auditor-General also cited the County Assembly of Isiolo for continuing to spend money on a debating chamber and restaurant project whose construction began in 2019 and stalled in 2022. According to the Auditor-General, the project was to cost Sh314 million.
Also flagged was the construction of five ward offices at a cost of Sh24 million, with the Ngaremara and Sericho ward offices having stalled since 2018.
“By March 31, 2025, a total of Sh19.38 million had been paid, leaving an outstanding balance of Sh5.6 million. However, management did not indicate the expected completion dates for the offices, which were between 64 per cent and 88 per cent complete,” the auditor states.
In 2024, the Isiolo County Government announced plans to inject Sh1.14 billion towards the completion of all stalled projects.
However, two years later, the county has only made progress on completing the Sh870 million abattoir, which had stalled for 17 years.
— Reporting by Eric Matara, Vitalis Kimutai, Barnabas Bii, Titus Ominde, Evans Jaola, Sammy Lutta, Florah Koech, Anthony Kitimo, George Munene, Mwangi Muiruri and David Muchui
