ICT budget faces scrutiny over Sh16bn debt

Eng. John Tanui, the Principal Secretary for the State Department for ICT and the Digital Economy speaking during International telecommunication union (ITU) regional development forum for Africa (RDF - AFR) 2025. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard] Members of Parliament have raised concerns over the Ministry of Information, Communication and Digital Economy's (MICDE) substantial pending bills amounting to Sh16.4 billion, as the ministry seeks an allocation of Sh22.4 billion for the 2025-26 financial year. ICT and Digital Economy Principal Secretary John Tanui and Broadcasting and Telecommunications PS Stephen Isaboke requested Parliament to approve the budget estimates to accomplish key projects. National Assembly Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation Chairperson John Kiarie noted that the two state departments had significant pending bills, seeking to know why they have not been cleared. "Even as the Ministry of Information, Communication and Digital Economy seeks Parliamentary approval of its budgetary proposal of Sh22.4 billion in the financial year 2025/26, we are concerned about the huge pending bills that are more than Sh16 billion," said Kiarie. Tanui informed the committee that the proposed allocation for the State Department of ICT is Sh16.1 billion, comprising Sh3.22 billion for recurrent expenditure and Sh 12.98 billion for development expenditure, with Sh885 million in pending bills. Isaboke stated that the proposed allocation for the State Department of Broadcasting and Telecommunications is Sh6.2 billion, comprising Sh5.8 billion for recurrent expenditure and Sh356 million for development expenditure, with Sh15.6 billion in pending bills. Isaboke detailed that Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) has Sh7.3 billion in pending bills, Government Advertising Agency has Sh1.4 billion, and Postal Corporation of Kenya has Sh6.9 billion in pending bills, of which the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) owes Sh450 million, and the rest is owed by the Ministry of Public Service for housing Huduma Centres. The ICT State Department received Sh20.2 billion in the 2021/22 financial year, Sh14.5 billion in 2022/23, and Sh19.4 billion in 2023/24, with actual expenditures during these periods being Sh18.2 billion, Sh11.7 billion, and Sh16 billion, respectively. Tanui highlighted achievements, such as setting up a 3,500-kilometre National Optical Fibre Backbone Infrastructure, connecting 247 innovation hubs to the internet, and providing internet services to 7,540 public institutions. The State Department of Broadcasting and Telecommunications received Sh8 billion in 2021/22, Sh6.5 billion in 2022/23, and Sh7.5 billion in 2023/24, with actual expenditures during these periods being Sh7.3 billion, Sh5.5 billion, and Sh6.1 billion, respectively. Isaboke noted the establishment of two additional studio mashinani, an increase in digital TV transmission coverage from 86 per cent to 98 per cent, and the accreditation of over 27,552 journalists. Concerned about substantial pending bills and the lack of clear breakdowns in the budget proposals, MPs rejected the proposal, citing vague allocations and demanded accountability for outstanding debts.

ICT budget faces scrutiny over Sh16bn debt

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ICT budget faces scrutiny over Sh16bn debt

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